Pakistan, which tries to preach to other countries on minorities, has done its best for the minorities in the Islamic Republic. Pakistan’s budget allocation for the welfare of religious minority communities, which was 100 million Pakistani rupees last year, has been completely removed from the federal budget for 2024-25 without any explanation.

Pakistani minority leaders have criticised the government for not allocating funds for their welfare in the new national budget, calling it a setback to the development of minorities like Christians, Hindus and Sikhs, whose numbers are anyway declining.

Religious minorities, including Christians, Hindus and Sikhs, make up less than 5% of Pakistan’s population of 244 million, while Hindus and Christians together make up 1.6%.

Pakistan’s federal budget for 2024-25 was presented on June 12 by Federal Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, amounting to Rs 18.87 trillion ($68 billion).

More for Haj pilgrims, nothing for minorities

The budget includes Rs1,861 million for the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony, up from last year’s Rs1,780 million. This allocation includes funds for Hajj pilgrims going to Mecca.

However, the budget allocation for the welfare of religious minority communities, which stood at Rs 100 million last year, was completely dropped this year without any explanation, reports UCA News.

Pakistan’s budget for defence affairs and services has increased by nearly 17%, with this year’s allocation standing at around 2.12 trillion Pakistani rupees.

Zero allocation for minorities hurts students

Minority leaders are concerned about the impact of the decision, especially on students who depend on scholarships and aid during religious festivals.

“There was a shortage of funds from the beginning. Now, the funds have completely dried up, just like the minority ministry at the federal level. Our students will suffer. They need government support,” Aijaz Alam Augustine, former minister for human rights and minorities affairs in Punjab, told UCA News.

In November 2008 Pakistan established a federal Ministry of Minorities for the first time.

Catholic Shahbaz Bhatti was appointed minister, but was assassinated in March 2011. The ministry later replaced the Ministry of National Harmony and Minority Affairs, which was eventually merged into the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony by the Pakistan Muslim League in 2013.

A Sikh academic has criticised the new coalition government of the Pakistan Muslim League and Pakistan Peoples Party, saying it does not offer any hope.

He said, “I have never seen any special scheme for the Sikh community. If any fund is announced, it will benefit larger communities like Christians in Punjab and Hindus in Sindh.”

Persecution of Ahmadis continues in Pakistan

The Ahmadiyya Muslim sect, which was declared non-Muslim by the Pakistani constitution in 1974, faces persecution by Sunni Muslim fundamentalists.

“We don’t consider ourselves a minority. However, state policies affect us equally,” Amir Mahmood, a spokesman for Pakistan’s Ahmadiyya community, said, UCA News reported.

Chaman Lal, president of Hindu welfare group Samaj Sewa Foundation Pakistan, sees a bleak future for religious minorities.

“Cash transfers and small development schemes for minorities have declined, while attacks on vulnerable communities have increased. They don’t care about us. They bow to religious extremist groups, but they can at least make efforts for socio-economic empowerment of minorities,” Lal said.

He also questioned the performance of minority representatives in the provincial legislatures.

Religious minorities, including Christians, Hindus and Sikhs, make up less than 5% of Pakistan’s 241 million population, while Hindus and Christians make up 1.6%. Church sources claim that only 34% of religious minorities, including Christians, are literate and only 4% have a university education. According to Lal, only 18% of marginalised Dalits, officially known as Scheduled Castes, are literate, reports UCA News.