Pakistan releases Rs 20 million to renovate Krishna temple in Islamabad

In a religion-friendly move, Pakistan's Punjab province government on Sunday released a whopping amount of Rs 20 million to reconstruct a Krishna temple in Rawalpindi.

The concerned authority has been directed to expand the temple to accommodate more Hindu devotees during festivals and religious occasions, according to a media report.

The decision was taken after a member of Provincial Assembly requested for the same, Mohammad Asif, the Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB) Deputy Administrator told Pakistani daily Dawn.

According to Asif, the strategy to renovate the Krishna temple has already been made by a team and the repairing process would begin anytime soon. The main room for the Krishna idol will be sealed until the process ends.

The Hindu temple in the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad was established by Kanji Mal and Ujagar Mal Ram Rachpal back in 1897. The small temple serves the local Hindu community from the nearby areas.

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However, followed by the partition of India, the street temple in Saddar was temporarily shut down and then reopened in the year 1949. The temple used to be operated by local Hindus before being handed over to the ETPB in 1970. Until the 1980s, even diplomats living in Islamabad visited the temple to pray.

Jag Mohan Arora said the temple courtyard, which can only accommodate 100 or so people, should be expanded, and shops next to the temple that the ETPB has leased to local traders should be retrieved to expand the front of the building.

"At present, the front of the temple is very small. The ETPB should vacate nearby shops that have been rented," Mr Arora said.

(With inputs from agencies)