Pakistan Allocates Rs 10 Million to Reconstruct Historic Baoli Sahib Hindu Temple After 64 Years

Islamabad: The Pakistani government has allocated a budget of 10 million Pakistani rupees to reconstruct the Baoli Sahid Hindu temple in Narowal of the Punjab province marking a significant step towards religious inclusivity by moving to restore the temple, which has been non-functional for around past 7 decades. Reports suggested that the first phase of restoration of the temple will be concluded and the temple will be opened for the devotees, which has remained non-functional for the past 64 years. Notably, at present there are no temples in the area for the Hindu community. 

The Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB), a federal body responsible for overseeing minority worship places in Pakistan , has initiated the construction process. The temple, located in Zafarwal town of Narowal, was rendered dysfunctional in 1960, leaving the local Hindu community without a dedicated place of worship.

Currently, there are no Hindu temples in Narowal, forcing the community to either conduct their religious rituals at home or travel to temples in Sialkot and Lahore. The restoration of the Baoli Sahib temple will fulfill a long-standing demand of the Hindu community, allowing them to perform their religious ceremonies at the site.

The ETPB has prioritized the construction of the boundary wall on the four kanals of land allocated for the temple. Once completed, the temple will be handed over to the Pak Dharamsthan Committee, a representative body of the Hindu community.

The restoration effort has been made possible through the efforts of Shoaib Siddal, chairman of the One Man Commission of the Supreme Court, and Manzoor Masih, member of the National Commission of Human Rights. Sawan Chand, president of the Pak Dharamsthan Committee, expressed gratitude towards the government for addressing the long-standing demand of the Hindu community.

Hindus form the biggest minority community in Pakistan , with official estimates suggesting a population of 75 lakh. However, the community claims that the actual number is over 90 lakh, with the majority settled in Sindh province, where they share culture, traditions, and language with the Muslim community.