Pakistan Hindu Mandir Management Committee

{{Infobox organization

| name = Pakistan Hindu Mandir Management Committee

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| formation = December 29, 2021

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| location = Pakistan

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| region_served = Pakistan

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| leader_title = Head

| leader_name = Krishna Sharma

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| parent_organization = Ministry of Religious Affairs and Inter-faith Harmony

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| website = {{url|https://phmmc.org.pk/phmmc/}}

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The Pakistan Hindu Mandir Management Committee is the first of its kind instituted by the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Inter-faith Harmony in Pakistan. The committee was formed to oversee the affairs of Hindu places of worship in the country.

Formation

This committee was formed on 29 December 2021. The inaugural meeting of the Pakistan Hindu Temple Management Committee was chaired by the then Federal Minister for Religious Affairs Noorul Haq Qadri.{{Cite web|url=https://tribune.com.pk/story/2336334/pakistan-hindu-temple-management-committee-formed|title=Pakistan Hindu Temple Management Committee formed|date=December 30, 2021|website=The Express Tribune}}

The formation of the committee is being seen as an important step towards promoting harmony among people of different cultures in the region.{{Cite web|url=https://epaper.dawn.com/DetailImage.php|title=Dec 30, 2021 | Mandir committee to help resolve differences among Hindus: minister|date=December 30, 2021|website=Dawn Epaper}}

The committee consists of several members and is headed by Krishna Sharma.{{Cite web|url=https://nation.com.pk/29-Dec-2021/religious-ministry-forms-first-ever-pakistan-hindu-temple-management-committee|title=Religious ministry forms first ever Pakistan Hindu Temple Management Committee|date=December 29, 2021|website=The Nation}}

Responsibilities

The main objective of the committee is to act as a bridge between the non-Muslim population and the state. The committee is expected to help solve the problems faced by the Pakistani Hindu community.{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/pakistan-sets-up-first-ever-body-of-hindu-leaders-to-take-care-of-minority-communitys-temples/article38068906.ece|title=Pakistan sets up first-ever body of Hindu leaders to take care of minority community's temples|newspaper=The Hindu |date=December 30, 2021|via=www.thehindu.com}}{{Cite web|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/pakistan/pak-sets-up-first-ever-body-of-hindu-leaders-to-take-care-of-minority-communitys-temples-7697613/|title=Pak sets up first-ever body of Hindu leaders to take care of minority community's temples|date=December 30, 2021}}

The Committee shall also be responsible for facilitating the Hindu Yatris (pilgrims) and making their journey and stay within Pakistan as comfortable as possible, besides making other necessary arrangements for their reception and farewell on every religious occasion.{{cite web | url=https://epaper.dawn.com/DetailImage.php?StoryImage=09_12_2021_153_003 | title=Dec 09, 2021 | Committee to supervise temples' management | date=9 December 2021 }}

Notable works

One of the notable steps taken by the committee is the recovery of the historic Nila Gumbad Valmiki Hindu temple in Lahore from illegal occupants. The temple was in dispute for 12 years and was finally reclaimed by the Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB) after a long court battle.{{Cite web|url=https://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2022/07/07/etpb-retrieves-neela-gumbad-valmiki-temple-from-illegal-occupation/|title=ETPB retrieves Neela Gumbad Valmiki Temple from illegal occupation|date=July 7, 2022}}https://etpb.gov.pk/etpb-retrieves-possession-of-valmiki-mandi/