PM Imran Khan approves Rs100m for first Hindu temple in Islamabad

Prime Minister Imran Khan on Saturday approved construction of a hindu temple in the capital city of Islamabad while announcing a grant of Rs100 million for the project. 

The temple, named Krishna, will be built on a 20,000 square foot plot in Islamabad’s H9 area. Parliamentary Secretary for Human Rights Lal Chand Malhi laid the foundation stone for the temple on Thursday.

“Participated in ground breaking ceremony of #Kirshna #temple at Islamabad H-9 sector, organised by #Hindu Panchayat Islamabad. It will be first-ever temple in #Islamabad since centuries. The govt provided four canals of land for construction of the temple. Long live Pakistan,” tweeted Malhi after the inauguration.

The announcement was made after a delegation of the country’s minority leaders met with PM Khan to chalk out a plan for the temple and discuss issues faced by the minorities in the country. 

The delegation was led by Minister of Religious Affairs Pir Noorul Haq Qadri whereas assembly members belonging to various faiths including Shunila Rath, Ramesh Kumar Vankwani, Jai Prakash Ukani and James Thomas were also present at the meeting.

PM Khan said “the protection of the rights of minorities and ensuring them equal opportunities in all walks of life is the top priority of the government.” 

“We all have to take Pakistan forward by promoting unity and religious harmony in our ranks.”

The Islamabad Hindu Panchayat, which named the temple Shri Krishna Mandir, will be responsible for administration of the temple. 

The small 3,000-strong hindu community in the capital had asked the government for a place for crematorium and worship in the capital as they had to take other measures to perform their last rites. 

The government and Islamabad Capital Authority had allotted the land for the temple back in 2017, however, the project faces delays as the final map for the construction was not approved by the Islamabad Authority in due time. 

PM Khan, in 2019, promised to reopen around 400 temples across the country and return them to hindu community. An estimated 428 hindu temples were converted into shops, hotels and government offices after partition.