PESHAWAR: The Hindu community members on Saturday continued the Diwali celebrations in parts of the provincial metropolis individually with complaints that the provincial government had failed to arrange the festival officially.

All Pakistan Hindu Rights Movement Chairman Haroon Sarb Diyal told Dawn that Diwali celebration had been started on Oct 17 which would continue for about two weeks, but the government was yet to extend them financial support in that regard.

“Though it is our religions festivity but the successive governments have made it a tradition to organise events officially in the past,” he recalled and suggested that the rulers should increase the annual budget for welfare of the minority groups to overcome their problems.

He said the Hindu community was celebrating Diwali inside their houses but publicly there was no arrangement. However, he said a grand function would be arranged at Nishtar Hall on Oct 27 wherein people from various religions would participate. Referring to Rs7 million annual budget for minorities, he said it was insufficient to meet needs of the people. He said in Peshawar the minority groups were raising voice for their rights but those living in remote districts were unable to access the administration and ministers to apprise them of their problems.

Published in Dawn, October 22nd, 2017