This decision was made during a meeting of the TPB.
Islamabad: The Pakistan government has prepared a ‘master plan’ for the renovation and beautification of temples and gurdwaras in the country at a cost of one billion Pakistani rupees. This decision was made during a meeting of the Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB) here on Saturday, February 23 chaired by its head Syed Attaur Rehman.
Rahman stated, “Under the master plan, temples and gurdwaras will be renovated and decorated, and development work will be carried out with a budget of one billion Pakistani rupees.”
He mentioned that significant funds are being spent on the maintenance of minority places of worship.
Rahman also said that the ETPB has received revenue of over one billion rupees this year. The meeting was attended by members of the Hindu and Sikh communities from across the country, as well as government and non-government members.
Board Secretary Farid Iqbal, who was speaking about the need for amendments to the ETPB development plan, informed the members that after making changes to the plan aimed at increasing the department’s revenue, the trust’s properties are now being presented for development.
He stated, “Giving such lands that have not been used for a long time for development will significantly increase the department’s revenue.”
The meeting also decided to appoint a project director for development and renovation works in various temples and gurdwaras, as well as for operational works in the ‘Project Management Unit Kartarpur Corridor.’
The Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB) is a statutory board of the Government of Pakistan, a key government department which administers evacuee properties, including educational, charitable or religious trusts left behind by Hindus and Sikhs who migrated to India after partition. It also maintains places of worship belonging to Hindus and Sikhs in Pakistan.
It was established in 1960 to look after the temples and land left over by Sikhs and Hindus who migrated to India during partition in 1947 and 1948. The board was started as a result of Nehru-Liaqat Pact in 1950 and Pant Mirza Agreement in 1955 to guarantee the rights of the minority Hindus and Sikhs.
