Addressing Urgent Issues in Pakistan’s COVID-19 Relief Efforts

Recent events in Pakistan have highlighted an alarming issue amidst the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic: the exploitation of religious minorities. A viral video on social media featured a cleric on Pakistan’s Mandi Channel claiming that his organization was conditioning food package distribution on religious conversion. Such incidents underscore the profound challenges faced by minorities, particularly in these trying times.

The Plight of Minorities Under Pandemic Pressure

In Pakistan, minorities make up approximately 5% of the population and are among the most oppressed and vulnerable groups in the country. The pandemic has exacerbated their struggles, with about 70% of the populace, many from these communities, earning their living through daily wages. Government and semi-government entities have so far failed to provide adequate support, often treating these individuals as societal burdens.

Alarming Reports from Karachi

A few weeks ago, individuals in Karachi reached out to reveal that the Saylani Welfare International Trust was allegedly withholding food aid from minority groups. The organization justified its actions by stating that since these funds were derived from Zakat (mandatory Islamic charity), they could not legally distribute them to non-Muslims. This is just a glimpse of the broader discrimination these communities face; denial of aid has been reported not just by private welfare entities but also government institutions.

Forced Conversion for Aid

It gets grimmer. Our organization has received credible reports that some government-funded foundations are not only denying aid to religious minorities but are also coercively offering it in exchange for conversion. These findings were first reported by our team in Karachi and have since been corroborated by similar stories across the country. For over four decades, religious groups have voiced their concerns over such violations of basic human rights.

The Harsh Reality

These minorities, with Christians being a significant portion, typically live hand-to-mouth, dependent on their daily earnings. Now, they are cornered into an unimaginable choice: convert or struggle to meet even the most basic family needs during a global crisis.

Immediate Call to Action

Our organization through her friends and partners has responded to appeals from hundreds of affected families, primarily in the Sindh and Punjab regions, by distributing food packages. However, the need is vast, and our resources are limited.

How You Can Help

To combat these injustices and support our efforts in providing relief to Pakistan’s religious minorities, we urge you to consider contributing to our cause. Every donation can help preserve dignity and provide essential relief for these vulnerable populations during such critical times.

For more information on how to help or to make a donation, please visit our website. Together, we can make a difference.

_Source article from ECSPE.org_