Funding covers scholarships, job preparation, interfaith initiatives and restoration of community facilities.
The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government says it has approved new policy and funding measures aimed at improving education, employment and religious facilities for the province’s minority communities.
After a meeting with a delegation representing minority groups, Special Assistant to the Chief Minister on Information, Shafi Jan, said the initiatives reflected what he described as a commitment to inclusive governance.
The meeting was also attended by Chief Minister’s Representative for Minority Affairs Wazir Zada. The meeting outlined a series of financial allocations and development projects.
According to Special Assistant Jan, Chief Minister Sohail Afridi approved funds totaling Rs 8.6 billion for minority welfare initiatives. Of this, Rs 800 million has been allocated for scholarships for minority students, covering education from matriculation to doctoral level.
An additional Rs 2,000 crore has been allocated for competitive exam preparation and skill training programs for minority youth, he said.
The government has also set aside Rs 3,000 crore for initiatives that promote interfaith harmony, community exchange programs and support for religious festivals. Funds have been approved for renovation and repair of places of worship, including Rs 1,000 million for sites in merged districts and Rs 700 million for settled districts.
Special Assistant Jan said Rs 1 billion had been approved for rehabilitation of cremation grounds and cemeteries, while development projects worth Rs 4,100 crore were being carried out for construction and restoration of places of worship and minority residential areas.
He added that a 2% quota had been reserved for minority students in educational institutions, while the 5% employment quota for minorities in government departments was being fully implemented.
