Pakistan Hindu Council

{{Infobox organization

| name = Pakistan Hindu Council
{{Nastaliq|پاکستان ہندو کونسل}}

| image = Official logo of the Pakistan Hindu Council.png

| size = 150px

| caption = Official logo

| abbreviation = PHC

| motto =

| formation = {{Start date and age|2005|||df=yes|p=y}}

| founder = Ramesh Kumar Vankwani

| type = Religious organization

| status = Foundation

| purpose = Religious studies, Spirituality, Social Reforms

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| area_served = {{flag|Pakistan}}

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| website = {{URL|http://www.pakistanhinducouncil.org.pk|pakistanhinducouncil.org.pk}}

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}}

Pakistan Hindu Council ({{Langx|ur|{{Nastaliq|پاکستان ہندو کونسل}}}}) is a non-profit organization founded in 2005 by Ramesh Kumar Vankwani. The council aims to promote interfaith harmony between various religions.{{Cite web |title=Who we are? |url=https://pakistanhinducouncil.org.pk/who-we-are/ |access-date=2024-02-01 |website=Pakistan Hindu Council |language=en-US}}

History

The Pakistan Hindu Council was founded by the Ramesh Kumar Vankwani, Hindu activist and member of the National Assembly of Pakistan. It was registered in 2005.{{Cite web |url=http://www.pakistanhinducouncil.org/ |title=Pakistan Hindu Council |access-date=2021-05-06 |archive-date=2019-04-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190408145504/http://pakistanhinducouncil.org/ |url-status=usurped }}

Mission and Organization

The Pakistan Hindu Council represents the Pakistani Hindu community on social and political issues and aims to protect the basic rights and freedoms, especially of worship and assembly, of Hindus all over Pakistan.{{Cite web|title=PHC|url=http://www.pakistanhinducouncil.org/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090223221816/http://www.pakistanhinducouncil.org/|url-status=usurped|archive-date=February 23, 2009|access-date=2021-05-06|website=www.pakistanhinducouncil.org}}

=PHC schools=

Currently, Pakistan Hindu Council is running 17 schools across Tharparkar District, where as many as 1200 students are getting an education.[https://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2017/04/22/how-long-will-govt-neglect-tharparkar-asks-mna-ramesh-kumar/ How long will govt neglect Tharparkar, asks MNA Ramesh Kumar]. PakistanToday. April 22, 2017

=Mass wedding=

The Pakistan Hindu Council organises mass wedding for poor Hindu couples annually.{{Cite web|last=Hasan|first=Shazia|date=2019-01-07|title=79 Hindu couples tie the knot in mass wedding|url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1455913|access-date=2021-05-06|website=DAWN.COM|language=en}} Around 1,100 couples have tied the knot through these ceremonies over the last eleven years.{{Cite web|title=Mass wedding|url=https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/417173-mass-wedding|access-date=2021-05-06|website=www.thenews.com.pk|language=en}}

Governing body

The governing body has 15 seats, contested by the Hindus all over the Pakistan.[http://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2016/03/05/city/karachi/56-candidates-to-contest-pakistan-hindu-council-elections/ 56 candidates to contest Pakistan Hindu Council elections]

Minority Rights

File:Protest against forced conversion of Hindu girls in Pakistan.jpg conducted by Pakistan Hindu Council]]

The council champions the Hindu's minority rights and it has been in the news for raising these issues including against the kidnapping, rape and forced conversions of Hindu girls.{{Cite news|last=Menon|first=Meena|date=2014-01-07|title=Forced conversion of Hindu girls on the rise: Pak Hindu Council|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/south-asia/forced-conversion-of-hindu-girls-on-the-rise-pak-hindu-council/article5549895.ece|access-date=2021-05-06|issn=0971-751X}}{{Cite web|date=2015-11-23|title=Security concerns: Hindu council condemns attack on minorities MNA|url=http://tribune.com.pk/story/997129/security-concerns-hindu-council-condemns-attack-on-minorities-mna|access-date=2021-05-06|website=The Express Tribune|language=en}}

Collaboration

The Pakistan Hindu Council actively seeks cooperation of other like-minded organizations and individuals to protect minorities's rights and raise awareness.

With the technical assistance of the Press Network of Pakistan, an Islamabad-based media house, a nationwide photo contest has been organized under the subject "All Pakistan Minorities Heritage Photo Contest" {{Cite web |date=2023-01-17 |title=Minorities Heritage Photo Contest promotes Interfaith Harmony - PNP |url=https://pnp.com.pk/357/ |access-date=2024-08-01 |website=Press Network of Pakistan |language=en-US}} seeking photos from Pakistani nationals related to Non-Muslim religious heritage sites of worship, including Hindu, Christian, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi and others.

{{Cite web|title=Pakistan Hindu Council announces minorities’ heritage photo contest|url=https://www.thenews.com.pk/amp/1023191-pakistan-hindu-council-announces-minorities-heritage-photo-contest|website=The News|language=en}}