Minority Affairs Department, Sindh
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| Agency overview | |
|---|---|
| Jurisdiction | Sindh, Pakistan |
Minister responsible |
|
Parent agency | Government of Sindh |
| Website | minorityaffairs |
The Minorities Affairs Department is a department of the Government of Sindh, Pakistan. It was established in 1995 with the Religious Affairs, Auqaf, Zakat and Ushr Departments, but became a separate department in 2010.[2]
The department was created to safeguard the rights of minorities, facilitates legislation, implementing 5% minority quota in government jobs, maintenance of minority worship places etc.[2] Minority students are given scholarship from the funds of the department.[3] The department also provides facilities to the devotees going to the Hinglaj Mata temple including bus services, accommodation facilities etc.[4]
Controversies
In 2013, a case was filed in the Sindh High Court for alleged mismanagement of minority funds. During 2010-2011, the ministry was allocated Rs100 million. In addition to this, Rs 50 million was allocated for money distribution among Hindus during Diwali celebrations. Despite the then minority minister, Mohan Lal Kohistani announcing Rs 5,000 will be given to poor Hindus, the application forms for the financial assistance were not provided for them. The petitioner argued that only 2,500 application forms were distributed and it was mostly given to ministers and other leaders and not to the poor Hindus.[5]
In 2015, the National Accountability Bureau arrested the former minority affairs secretary Badar Jamil Mandhro and former minority affairs director Khadim Hussain Channa for allegedly taking bribes for the appointment of 26 officers under the minority department.[6]
In 2026, MPA Mahesh Kumar Hasija told in the Sindh assembly that the minority department is corrupted. He argued to increase the salary of the low-grade employees to avoid corruption.[7]
See also
References
- ↑ "Cabinet & Functionaries". Provincial Assembly of Sindh. Retrieved 26 July 2026.
- 1 2 "Minority Affairs Department Govt of Sindh". Sindh.gov.pk. Retrieved 2014-07-20.
- ↑ "Students from minority communities get scholarship cheques | The Express Tribune". The Express Tribune. 2022-06-06. Archived from the original on 2022-06-14. Retrieved 2026-07-26.
- ↑ "Bus service announced for Hinglaj Mata Yatra | The Express Tribune". The Express Tribune. 2023-07-10. Archived from the original on 2024-04-23. Retrieved 2026-07-26.
- ↑ "Minority affairs secretary to explain alleged misuse of funds". Express Tribune. 2 February 2013. Retrieved 26 July 2026.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ↑ "Excise secretary, anti-corruption director held on graft charge". Dawn. 2015-06-05. Retrieved 2026-07-26.
- ↑ Siddiqui, Tahir (24 June 2026). "Allegations of corruption, ethnic politics dominate post-budget debate in Sindh Assembly". Dawn. Retrieved 26 July 2026.
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