Sindh Struggles to Fill Minority Vacancies

Shazia Mehboob/Joshua J Stephen

Islamabad:In various regions of Sindh province, a significant number of minority quota vacancies remain unfilled due to lack of qualified candidates. 

As many as 594 positions are allocated for minorities under the Sindh government quota across 18 districts but many seats remain unfilled due to the shortage of suitable contenders, according to the  data received by Boota Imtiaz, a rights activist from Hyderabad, under the Right to Information Act.

In Hyderabad, efforts to implement the 5 percent minority quota saw 82 positions designated, but only 65 candidates met the qualification standards and passed the required tests. As a result, 17 positions remain unfilled due to a shortage of qualified candidates.

Matiari managed to appoint 44 out of 46 qualified minority candidates by December 31, 2023, with the remaining 2 appointed in a subsequent phase. Consequently, Matiari currently has no candidates awaiting appointment.

Jamshoro faces vacancies in minority seats due to a lack of qualified candidates, while Dadu clarified that 29 minority candidates meeting the 40 percent cut-off for the quota have been appointed, with no candidates remaining eligible for further appointments.

In Tando Allahyar, one minority quota seat remains vacant in Taluka Jhando Mari, with no candidates on the waiting list. Tando Muhammad Khan completed its appointments under the minority quota, with candidates on a waiting list but no available vacancies in Taluka for additional appointments.

Badin fulfilled all claims for Primary School Teacher (PST) positions in Talukas Matli, Talhar, and S F Rahu. Meanwhile, in Thatta, 13 offer letters were issued under the minority quota, leaving 4 seats vacant.

The overall, position as it stands is as follows:

S.No	District	Vacancies	(Appointed)	5% Quota	Minority Appointed
1	Badin	609	609	30	23
2	Dadu	736	684	36	13
3	Hyderabad	1018	1018	51	51
4	Jamshoro	323	323	16	8
5	Matiari	342	342	17	17
6	Sujawal	816	620	40	21
7	Tando Allahyar	406	405	20	6
8	Tando Muhammad khan	254	252	13	11
9	Thatta	629	629	31	31

Sujawal reports appointing 21 minority candidates out of 33 allocated posts, leaving 12 minority quota positions vacant.

 The overall vacant posts in Sujawal currently total 297 out of 684 sanctioned positions.

Why is it so?

Executive Director of the Centre for Social Justice Peter Jacob, when asked, said since 2009, the government has implemented quota policies in employment to address these disparities, but educational backwardness among minorities remains a critical issue. 

Peter Jacob added that the 1998 census revealed that Hindu communities are 20 percent behind in education, and Christians are 11 percent behind.  Jacob argues that a shift towards prioritizing education over employment quotas could yield better long-term results.

He also criticizes the lack of data-driven policymaking and effective implementation, highlighting widespread corruption and nepotism in job allocations.

Moreover, the rights activists emphasized the need for a dedicated oversight body to monitor quota implementation and address biases and injustices. Without proper legislation and accountability, affirmative action efforts risk being ineffective. 

Jacob advocates for a comprehensive approach that includes rigorous policymaking, effective implementation, and sustained oversight to achieve meaningful equality and economic parity for minorities in Pakistan.

Boota Imtiaz cited several factors contributing to the lack of qualified minority youth applying for positions under the minority quota. 

He noted that many belong to the working class or just below it, facing significant financial challenges that hinder their ability to afford education for their children.

Particularly in Sindh, where there is a large population of minority Hindus, they often receive more opportunities through quotas compared to Christians in central Sindh.

This disparity reflects the socio-economic conditions where majority groups tend to have better access to education and opportunities from birth, which perpetuates these inequalities.

Read More: https://thepenpk.com/the-tragic-reality-of-bonded-labor/

According to data received by Boota Imtiaz, a rights activist from Hyderabad, under the Right to Information Act—a law that allows every Pakistani citizen to obtain information from public departments—seven minority quota posts remain unfilled in Taluka S F Rahu and Talhar of Badin due to insufficient qualified minority applicants.

Similarly, 23 minority posts are vacant in Dadu district because no candidates meet the qualification criteria. In Hyderabad, no candidates have been designated for minority posts.

In Jamshoro, minority seats were revoked and reassigned to general vacancies for both male and female candidates, following a directive from HR&T SELD Karachi (letter DG/HHR training/ SELD/General/2022/1842, dated October 27, 2022).

Matiari has appointed minority candidates until December 31, 2023, with one additional candidate appointed in the third phase. In Sujawal, 19 minority posts remain vacant.

Meanwhile, Tando Muhammad Khan has two remaining minority posts with no qualified candidates. In Thatta, there are currently no minority candidates awaiting positions.

Boot Imtiaz Mashi, a rights activist from Hyderabad, when asked, said this widespread issue underscores a significant gap in qualified minority candidates across these regions, necessitating strategic initiatives to address this imbalance and promote inclusive representation in the workforce.

Universal Declaration

According to Article 1 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, “All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.”

Under the leadership of the chairperson, the National Commission for Human Rights (NCHR) in Pakistan has embarked on initiatives to address discrimination against minorities, focusing particularly on job advertisements and the treatment of sanitary workers, aiming to protect and promote the human rights of all citizens.

Approximately 96.5 percent of Pakistan’s population is Muslim, with Hindu and Christian minorities constituting around 3 percent. Despite efforts, challenges persist in ensuring equitable representation and opportunities for these minority communities.

Read More: https://thepenpk.com/discrimination-embedded-in-society-against-sanitary-workers-2/

In 2009, the government mandated a 5 percent quota in all federal and provincial government offices from BPS-01 to BPS-22 for religious minorities. However, reports indicate that nearly half of these quota positions remain vacant.

Furthermore, a significant portion of employed non-Muslim minorities, approximately 80 percent, are relegated to low-paid positions ranging from BPS 01 to BPS 04.

A striking example is seen among Christian sanitary workers in major municipal corporations across Pakistan:

• Lahore Waste Management Company: 6000/7894 workers are Christians.
• Capital Development Authority: All 1500/1500 workers are Christians.
• Peshawar Municipal Corporation: 824/935 workers are Christians.
• Quetta Municipal Corporation: 768/978 workers are Christians.
• Karachi Municipal Corporation: 15600/19000 workers are Christians.

Breaking the Cycle Through Education

The concentration of minorities in low-paying sanitation roles (BPS 01-BPS 04) exacerbates financial hardship, limiting access to quality education for their children and perpetuating a cycle of limited opportunities.

The scarcity of minority role models in higher government positions further compounds these challenges, hindering aspirations for better careers among younger generations.