Sindh Introduces Sanatan Dharm Curriculum in Private Schools

Sindh Makes 'Sanatan Dharm' Textbooks Mandatory for Hindu Students in Public and Private Schools
Ali Imran Chattha Karachi, 2 August 2026 

The Government of Sindh has made the teaching of the approved "Sanatan Dharm" textbook compulsory for Hindu students in Grades III to V at all privately managed schools across the province, marking a significant step towards ensuring religious education for minority communities in line with Pakistan's Constitution.
The directive was issued by the Directorate of Inspection & Registration of Private Institutions, Sindh, following instructions from the School Education & Literacy Department. Private schools have been instructed to make the prescribed textbooks available, appoint suitable teachers, implement the curriculum according to the academic calendar, and submit compliance reports to the Directorate without delay.
Sindh Education Minister Syed Sardar Ali Shah described the initiative as a landmark decision, stating that the government was fulfilling its constitutional and moral responsibility by providing Hindu students with education based on their own faith. He noted that such a measure should have been introduced much earlier. The initiative is the result of the joint efforts of MPA Mahesh Kumar Hasija, the Pakistan Hindu Mandir Management Committee (PHMMC) and the Prem Sagar Sanstha, which worked together to support the development and implementation of the curriculum.
Speaking to the media, Mr Krishan Sharma, President of the Pakistan Hindu Mandir Management Committee, welcomed the decision, saying it would benefit approximately 150,000 Hindu children studying in both government and private schools across Sindh. He described the move as a milestone for minority education and religious inclusion.

The policy builds on the Sindh Government's April 2026 decision to introduce dedicated Hindu religious textbooks in government schools, replacing the previously taught Ethics subject for Hindu pupils in Grades III to V.
The initiative is based on Article 22(1) of Pakistan's Constitution, which guarantees that no individual shall be compelled to receive religious instruction other than that of their own faith.
Under the policy, the Sindh Textbook Board will print and distribute the textbooks free of charge. For the current academic year, publication costs have been met by the Karachi-based welfare organisation Prem Sagar Sanstha, with the provincial government expected to allocate regular funding in the 2026–27 budget.
Official figures show that more than 129,000 Hindu students are enrolled in Grades III to V in government schools across Sindh, with Tharparkar and Umerkot recording the highest enrolment. The latest notification extends the same educational opportunity to Hindu students enrolled in private schools.
The decision has been widely welcomed as a positive step towards inclusive education and the protection of minority rights, although education experts have stressed the need for adequate teacher training and effective implementation to ensure the policy achieves its intended objectives.