ASIA/PAKISTAN – A bill to protect religious minority property in Punjab

Lahore – A bill entitled “Protection of Minority Community Properties Bill 2026,” intended as a comprehensive measure to protect the property of religious minorities throughout Punjab province, has been submitted to the Punjab Assembly for consideration and voting in its next session. The bill, prepared by the Assembly’s Standing Committee on Minority Affairs, covers not only religious institutions such as churches and temples, but also properties such as land, buildings, schools, and institutes acquired through government grants, public funds, donations, and charitable contributions. With the bill supported by a majority backing the current provincial government, there is a good chance it will be approved.
The bill proposes the establishment of a special committee to ensure the protection of all minority property in Punjab. This committee will compile a complete inventory of properties in the province and monitor for illegal occupation and misuse of these properties. It will also provide the government with recommendations for its administration and assist minorities in resolving any legal issues they may face.
Father Qaisar Feroz OFM Cap, parish priest from Lahore, the capital of Punjab province, and spokesperson for the Pakistani Bishops’ Conference, told Fides: “This bill seems right to us; it addresses an important issue: many properties, such as schools, buildings, and land, were nationalized in the past and are still state-owned or illegally occupied by Muslims who use them for private purposes. If the law helps to recognize and protect our rights, it would be a positive sign from the government authorities,” he noted. “As a Christian community, we ask for protection and assure our full cooperation with the police,” he added, noting that the protection of churches by security personnel, especially during major religious holidays, is also a welcome measure. Christians, who constitute a small minority in Pakistan , have experienced both the past nationalization campaign and the illegal occupation of property by individuals or organizations as attempts to restrict their cultural and religious influence.

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