The Sindh Education and Literacy Department has initiated steps to introduce religious textbooks for Hindu students enrolled in government schools for grades three to five, it emerged on Thursday.

According to a notification issued on April 29, the Sindh Textbook Board (STBB) had no financial budget available for the publication of the subject religious books for the current academic year.

Therefore, a social welfare organisation, “Prem Sagar Sanstha”, Karachi, was granted permission to publish the subject religious books for Hindu students studying in public schools of Sindh for the academic year 2026–27, the notification stated.

The notification further added that the books would be taught from grades three to five to Hindu students, while the distribution of the books would be carried out through the STBB.

Additionally, the STBB was requested to allocate and adjust the budget for the publication of the religious books for the next academic year.

Read: Cambridge confirms AS Level Mathematics paper leak

On the directives of Sindh Education Minister Syed Sardar Ali Shah, the process was formally initiated to ensure that Hindu students in government schools were provided with religious education materials.

The textbooks were to be supplied to Hindu students enrolled in government schools across the province.

At present, 129,119 Hindu students and pupils are enrolled in government schools across Sindh.

The highest number of students was recorded in Tharparkar district, where 26,642 students were studying, followed by Umerkot with 21,584 students in government schools.