Faisalabad: Professor Anjum James Paul, Chairman of PMTA says that Punjab Education, Curriculum, Training And Assessment Authority (PECTAA) has approved the textbooks of Religious Education for Non-Muslim students under Notification No: PECTAA /C & C Unit/2026/767 Dated: 30.03.2026 w.e.f. the Academic Session 2026-2027 and onwards:

1. Masihi Taleem (Christianity) for Grades 1-9 & 11

2. ⁠Sanatan Dharam (Hinduism) for Grades 1-3

3. ⁠Sikh Dharam (Sikhism) for Grades 1-3

4. ⁠Kalasha Taleem for Grades 1-3

5. ⁠Budhmat (Buddhism) for Grades 1-3

6. ⁠Zoroastrianism for Grades 1-5

The foundation of Pakistan Minorities Teachers' Association was laid in 2004 for need based and valued based curriculum, textbooks and to promote the culture of peaceful coexistence, religious diversity, social harmony and equality. PMTA is representative of Christianity, Sanatan Dharam, Sikh Dharam, Kalasha, Baha’i, Buddhism and Zoroastrianism.

Pakistani minority students were deprived of religious education while the majority students had the constitutional guarantee guaranteed in article 31 for the subject of Islamic Studies while minority students were deprived of the same right guaranteed in article 25 that guarantees equality of citizens.

My daughter Takveen Anjum refused to appear in the subject of Islamic Studies in grade 5 because she felt that there was racism with her on the basis of religion. She wanted to appear in the subject of her own religion. I, Anjum James Paul, paid heed to her voice. We the like minded minority teachers of seven religions serving in schools, colleges and universities established PMTA in 2004.

PMTA made constant efforts for equal rights and equal opportunities and finally National Curriculum Council, Federal Ministry of Education, Government of Pakistan notified the curriculum of 7 minority religions of Pakistan. PMTA supported the Federal Ministry of Education, Government of Pakistan in shaping the curriculum, textbooks development and provided the experts of religious minorities as authors and reviewers.

PMTA is highly thankful to the Government of Pakistan, Government of Punjab, religious leaders, parliamentarians, electronic, print and social media, civil society and all those individuals who have supported the cause. PMTA especially thanks Dr. Shoaib Suddle, Chairman One Man Commission, Mr. Muhammad Rafique Tahir ex-Joint Educational Advisor, National Curriculum Council (NCC) Federal Ministry of Education and Professional Training, Government of Pakistan, Dr. Marium Chughtai ex-Director NCC, Sohail Bin Aziz, Deputy Director NCC and all the team of National Curriculum Council, Mr. Amir Riaz Director, Punjab Education, Curriculum, Training And Assessment Authority (PECTAA), Mehr Safdar Walid, Deputy Director (PECTAA), Dr. Sohail Sarwar, Deputy Director (PECTAA), Mr. Danish Sarfraz, Subject Specialist (PECTAA), Authors and Reviewers of the textbooks of Religious Education of various religions.

PMTA requests the Government of Pakistan and the Government of Punjab to recruit teachers from the religious minorities to teach the subject of religious education to the minority students as it is in the case of Muslim students who are being taught by a Muslim teacher. It is also requested that all the federally units of Pakistan must issue the notification for the publishing the Religious Education textbooks of all the seven minority religions without any further delay and to provide minority teachers to teach the subject of Religious Education.