Sikhs in Pakistan want their say in Govt

"The Sikhs' problems could be solved if the community is given representation in the Government or if a Sikh is appointed an adviser to the prime minister," said Swaran Singh, candidate for the post of president of the Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee.

He suggested that an adviser to the Prime Minister should be appointed to attract Sikhs from other countries to invest in Pakistan. Christians and Hindus have representations in the government, but Sikhs have yet to reach the national or provincial assemblies, he said.

There are about 12,000 Sikhs in Pakistan who have been facing several social and political problems.

"Christians and Hindus do not have any idea about the problems faced by Sikhs," he told the Daily Times.

He said many Sikh youths were deprived of quality higher education because they did not have any scholarship quota in the Higher Education Commission.

While Christian and Hindu widows receive Rs 5,000 a month as financial aid from the government, Sikh widows are not given such assistance, he pointed out.