Lahore
The Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB) has initiated the reconstruction of the Baoli Sahib temple in Zafarwal, Narowal district, Punjab on Monday, after it was rendered dysfunctional 64 years ago. A budget of PKR 10 million has been allocated for this project, marking the first phase of restoration since the temple’s closure in 1960.
Currently, there are no Hindu temples in the Narowal district, compelling the local Hindu community to conduct religious rituals at home or travel to temples in Sialkot and Lahore. The local Hindu population, numbering over 1,453, has long sought a dedicated place for worship, particularly since the district had 45 Hindu temples at the time of Pakistan’s establishment, all of which have since fallen into disrepair.
Ratan Lal Arya, former president of the Pak Dharamsthan Committee, noted that the ETPB’s control led to the temple’s dysfunction. For the past 20 years, the committee has campaigned for the temple’s restoration, and recent government actions reflect a commitment to address the community’s needs.
Sawan Chand, current president of the Pak Dharamsthan Committee, expressed that the restoration of Baoli Sahib temple fulfills a long-standing demand of the Hindu community, enabling them to practice their religious rites at the site. Hindus represent the largest minority community in Pakistan, with official estimates of around 7.5 million residing in the country, while community figures suggest the number may exceed 9 million. Most of Pakistan’s Hindu population is concentrated in Sindh province, where they share cultural and linguistic ties with their Muslim counterparts.
