Faisalabad: The Chairman of Pakistan Minority Teachers Association PMTA professor Anjum James Paul have written letter to Secretary Education of Punjab Government on immediately provide Religious Textbooks and appoint Teachers for Minority Students.

Herewith is copy of letter:

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Ref.No.PMTA/25-29/26-KPR                                            Dated: September 3, 2026

To

Mr. Muddassir Riaz Malik

Secretary

School Education Department

Govt. of Punjab

Lahore

Subject: -     REQUEST FOR AVAILABILITY OF RELIGIOUS EDUCATION TEXTBOOKS  AND TEACHERS FOR RELIGIOUS MINORITY STUDENTS

Honorable Sir,

Greetings and peace from Pakistan Minorities Teachers’ Association (PMTA).

PMTA would like to draw your kind attention on the subject cited above.

Sir, First of all PMTA appreciates the Punjab government for publishing the textbooks on Religious Education for the students of religious minorities for the academic calendar 2026-2027 but there are certain challenges that religious minority students are facing. Firstly, these students are still without textbooks even after the summer vacation. Secondly, no arrangements of teachers have been made so far to teach the subject of Religion Education. Thirdly, religious minority students desire to be strengthened in their own religious beliefs like the Muslim students with the same rights that Muslim students enjoy but the subject of “Ethics” is a hurdle in their spiritual grooming as they are forced to study the beliefs and religious personalities of those religions that they do not follow. This is an open violation of article 20 (a) of the Constitution of Pakistan.

The minority students are much worried for their future who have to appear in the 9th and 11th grades examinations to be held by the Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education in 2027 as they are without textbooks and teachers.

There are reservations on the availability of the textbooks as well.

·       PECTAA has published all (9) textbooks on Religious Education for Christian students from grades I-XI but they are not available to students.

·       PECTAA has published grades I-V textbooks on Zoroastrianism, grades I-III on Buddhism, grades I-III on Kalasha, grades I-III on Sanatan Dharam, grades I-III on Sikhism but they are not for all classes.

·       No textbooks have been published on Bahai’ religion.

Sir, there is recruitment of only Muslim teachers for the subject of Islamic Studies to guarantee Freedom of Religion and Belief (FoRB) of Muslim students as guaranteed in article 20 (a) of the Constitution of Pakistan that guarantees, “every citizen shall have the right to profess, practice and propagate his religion;”. PMTA requests your good office to implement the same policy for the protection of Freedom of Religion and Belief (FoRB) of the students belonging from the minority religions of Pakistan on equality basis as guaranteed in Article 25 (1) of the Constitution of Pakistan, “All citizens are equal before law and are entitled to equal protection of law.”

Sir, it is requested you to kindly take prompt and appropriate measures for the protection of the rights of the religious minority students as guaranteed in the Constitution of Pakistan and International Covenants and Conventions for the Freedom of Religion and Belief of a child. 

With best regards.

PROF. ANJUM JAMES PAUL

CHAIRMAN

Copy to;

I.               Ms. Maryam Nawaz, Chief Minister, Punjab

II.             Mr. Rana Sikander Hayat, Minister for School Education Department, Punjab

III.            Mr. Ramesh Singh Arora, Minister for Minority Affairs, Punjab

IV.           Mr. Muhammad Musa Ali Bokhari, CEO, Punjab Education Curriculum Training And Assessment Authority

Prof. Anjum James Paul

Chairman

Pakistan Minorities Teachers' Association (PMTA)

Address: Khushpur Chak No.51/GB, St # 18, Tehsil Samundri, Dist. Faisalabad, Pakistan

Cell No.+92-300-769-5653

             +92-333-993-3922

WhatsApp: +92-300-769-5653

Blog: http://pmtapk.blogspot.com/   

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Pakistan-Minorities-Teachers-Association-1510226999243934/?ref=settings    

https://www.facebook.com/anjumjames.paul

YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCoUaTrgaYLWWIdBQf0xImIw?view_as=subscriber   

PMTA is making efforts since 2004 for education reforms through advocacy, lobbying and analyses on the textbooks of Pakistan to promote diversity and peaceful coexistence through the Pakistani education system.. Pakistani religious minorities are not enjoying fully constitutionally their civil and political rights and they are  facing challenges of equal citizenship, equal rights and equal opportunities. Due to religious persecution lives, beliefs, families and properties of religious minorities are always at risk. Pakistani public sector education system  promotes violence, intolerance, hatred and extremism through the language and images of the textbooks against non-Islamic religions, non-Muslims  and non-Islamic Civilizations. Thus Pakistani religious minorities become the direct target of the intolerance and extremism that Pakistani education system promotes.