Pakistani authorities have cleared the way for construction of the capital’s first Hindu temple, but without state money.
This is a decision seen as an attempt to assuage concerns from some religious circles.
“The authorities have granted permission to build the temple, but the government will not finance the construction,’’ Pritam Das, a leader of Islamabad’s Hindu community, said on Wednesday.
In June, Prime Minister Imran Khan had announced around $500,000 for the construction of the temple, a community hall and crematorium, but some clerics in the country had objected at the move.
The Capital Development Authority (CDA) halted construction of the boundary wall at the site of the Shri Krishan Mandir.
It was also vandalised by radicals in July.
The government sent the matter to the Council of Islamic Ideology (CII), a body of Islamic scholars which advises the government.
The CII had recommended against the use of the state money.
Das said that the CDA had granted permission on Monday, but the community did not have money to resume construction work after the construction halt six months ago.
More than $30,000, according to Das, were needed to build the boundary wall.
“We will launch a fundraising campaign and start building the boundary wall in the first phase,’’ Das said.
Islamabad is home to around 3,000 Hindus, but they lack a place to worship.
Pakistan has around eight million Hindus, the majority of whom are based in the southern province of Sindh, near the border with India. (dpa/NAN)
