Christian settlements in Pakistan face chronic neglect, poor sanitation, and failing infrastructure despite rising budgets and official promises.
Newsroom (19/05/2026 Gaudium Press ) On the outskirts of Lahore, Pakistan’s provincial capital in Punjab, a foul-smelling reality defines daily life for thousands. Each time Akash Dulah Masih moves through Mehar Town, he instinctively covers his nose to escape the stench rising from an open dumping ground flooded intermittently by sewage water.
The stagnant waste, fed by a constantly leaking sewer line, transforms into what residents describe as a “sea of waste” during rainfall. For Masih, a 25-year-old Christian educationist, the problem is not occasional but constant. “The most prevalent issue here is seweage — not just during the monsoon, but throughout the year,” he said.
Mehar Town is home to approximately 5,000 families, most of them Christians. Basic infrastructure is almost non-existent. Even light rain submerges the streets, leaving residents wading through dirty water simply to carry on with daily routines. For many, dignity has become a casualty of neglect.
“It is a shame that our daughters have to pass through this just to go to school, college, or work,” Masih added. “Even the graveyards are drowned in sewage water.”
Widespread Neglect Across Settlements
The crisis in Mehar Town is not isolated. Across Lahore, several Christian-majority settlements present similar conditions of decay and abandonment.
In Maryam Nishat Colony, infrastructure challenges take on another dimension. Narrow roads prevent even basic movement, making daily life—and even death rites—difficult. According to Behram Francis, a resident and legal advisor with the Catholic Bishop’s Justice and Peace Commission, funerals often require vehicles to be parked outside the colony due to limited accessibility.
“You can’t imagine how hard it is to arrange funerals here,” Francis said. “We are forced to park our cars outside the settlement.”
Weekly flooding from sewage water compounds the problem, while poorly managed infrastructure continues to deteriorate. After recent gas pipeline maintenance, roads were left damaged and unusable. Electricity lines, loosely installed and inadequately maintained, are frequently disrupted by passing vehicles.
Far from being exceptions, these conditions mirror those in other impoverished neighborhoods, including Bahar Colony, where broken roads remain unrepaired for years after utility work.
Budget Allocations, Limited Impact
Despite recurring government budgets aimed at improving conditions in underprivileged communities, residents say little changes on the ground.
The issue recently sparked debate in Punjab’s provincial assembly, the political center of the country’s most populous province and the heartland of Pakistan’s Christian population. During a session at the end of April, Assembly Speaker Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan openly criticized the Punjab Human Rights and Minority Affairs Department for failing to deliver tangible improvements.
Although approximately four billion rupees (around US$14.36 million) were allocated for minority welfare in both the 2024–25 and 2025–26 fiscal years, Khan described the departments’ performance as “zero.”
“What good is in a church building if the people of that place are living in conditions of extreme deprivation and dying without basic facilities?” he reportedly asked.
Lawmakers from both sides of the political aisle echoed these concerns, pointing to a growing disconnect between increased funding and unchanged conditions in minority neighborhoods.
Infrastructure Failures With Deadly Consequences
Neglect in these densely populated, low-income areas is not merely inconvenient—it can be fatal.
In January, a gas explosion killed eight people, including a newlywed couple, in one such settlement. The blast destroyed several homes and highlighted the vulnerability created by poor construction, weak safety oversight, and lack of ventilation.
What should have been a preventable infrastructure issue became a deadly disaster, reinforcing fears among residents that their living conditions expose them to constant risk.
A National Pattern of Marginalization
The challenges extend beyond Lahore. In Karachi, Pakistan’s largest city, Christian communities in neighborhoods such as Essa Nagri, Pahar Ganj, and Khuda Ki Basti report similar neglect.
Activists argue that the issue is systemic. Basil Andrews, a Christian advocate, points to widespread infrastructure failures and lack of public investment in these areas.
For residents, the marginalization goes beyond material deprivation—it bleeds into everyday social experiences. Noor-e-Saher, a nurse from Youhanabad, says stigma has become attached to their neighborhoods.
“Why is there always a sewerage drain next to Christian settlements?” she asked. “Even ride services avoid or cancel bookings when they see our locality.”
Suleman Masih from Mehar Town shares similar experiences, noting that ride-hailing drivers often refuse trips or express frustration due to poor road conditions.
“Not Just Poverty”: A Question of Dignity
Religious leaders and social advocates argue that the issue transcends poverty. Capuchin priest Lazar Aslam, who works closely with marginalized Christian communities in Punjab and Sindh, describes the situation as a deeper moral failure.
“This is not just poverty,” he said. “It is an assault on the image of God in each person.”
According to Father Aslam, many residents—sanitation workers, brick-kiln laborers, and daily wage earners—face systemic neglect that reinforces their economic hardship. Regular exposure to contaminated water has made diseases such as hepatitis and typhoid common, further trapping families in cycles of poverty.
Atta-ur-Rehman, deputy director of the Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace, emphasizes the need for accountability. He argues that elected officials must be held responsible for failing to provide basic services.
At the same time, he and other leaders stress that institutions beyond the government, including the Church, must play a role in ensuring inclusion and equitable development planning.
For Father Aslam, the solution begins with a fundamental principle: dignity.
“Dignity is not a luxury,” he said. “It begins with clean water, secure housing, and equal opportunity.”
- Raju Hasmukh with files from UCA News
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