The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has taken a significant step for the welfare of minority communities by officially handing over a total of four kanals of land in Dera Ismail Khan for cremation grounds. Of the allocated land, two kanals have been designated for the Hindu community and two kanals for the Sikh community.

Provincial Minister for Auqaf and Religious Affairs, Sahibzada Muhammad Adnan Qadri, formally handed over the land to the representatives of the respective communities. Speaking on the occasion, he said that protecting religious freedom and safeguarding the rights of minority communities remain among the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government's top priorities.

He said the provincial government is spending millions of rupees on minority places of worship, religious festivals, and welfare projects. In addition, educational scholarships for minority students, as well as financial assistance for widows, orphans, and persons with disabilities from minority communities, are being provided.

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According to Qadri, the government has established a Rs200 million endowment fund for the rehabilitation of minority communities affected by terrorism. A separate Rs100 million special fund has also been allocated for the development of the Kalash community.

He further said that work is underway on providing land for minority graveyards, cremation grounds, and places of worship, along with the solarisation and restoration of religious sites. Provincial and district-level interfaith harmony committees are also playing an active role in promoting religious harmony.

The minister said minorities are a respected and equal part of society, and the government is taking practical measures, in line with the principles of the State of Madinah, to promote justice, equality, and religious tolerance.

He reaffirmed the government's commitment to taking further effective measures to protect the social, educational, economic, and religious rights of minority communities.

Meanwhile, representatives of the Hindu and Sikh communities welcomed the move, describing it as a historic and positive step towards the protection of minority rights in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.