For the first time in Pakistan’s history, the National Curriculum Council (NCC) has issued a No Objection Certificate (NOC) for the publication of religious textbooks for students of seven minority religious groups enrolled in federal government-supervised educational institutions.
The NCC has allowed the publication of textbooks on Hinduism, Sikhism, Christianity, Bahai, Zoroastrianism, Kalasha, and Buddhism. The National Book Foundation (NBF) will publish the textbook.
According to the NOCs, students of minority communities enrolled in schools supervised by the federal government will be taught these textbooks from grade one to three, Express Tribune reported.
According to a recent report by the United States Institute of Peace, Pakistan has witnessed a surge in extremism and intolerance of diversity and dissent as the state-sanctioned laws and conservative narratives facilitate religious extremist elements and support their narrative, leaving little space for religious inclusion.
Earlier, the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) raised concerns over the “continued” marginalisation of minorities, saying the recent developments “belie the state’s commitment to freedom of religion or belief”.
The HRCP, in a report titled: A Breach of Faith: Freedom of Religion or Belief in 2021-22, said that “it has observed with considerable alarm developments during 2021/22 that belie the state’s commitment to freedom of religion or belief.”
The report pointed out that the incidence of forced conversions in Sindh has remained “worryingly consistent”. It also added that the desecration of Ahmadi worship places has continued with no response from the State.
 has issued a No Objection Certificate (NOC) for the publication of religious textbooks for students of seven minority religious groups enrolled in federal government-supervised educational institutions.){kind=link}