LAHORE: The Punjab government has rejected a report published by English-language newspaper Dawn and allegations made by an Indian journalist regarding the alleged demolition of a more than 100-year-old Hindu temple in Siraj village, Narowal district.
According to a government spokesperson, no part of the temple was demolished by anyone. Instead, a portion of the temple building collapsed following heavy rainfall in the area on August 21, 2026.
The government also rejected the report’s claim regarding the land associated with the temple, clarifying that land adjacent to the temple had been leased to a madrassa, while the temple’s own land had never been leased to anyone.
⭕️ *The recent Dawn report concerns a more than 100 year old Hindu Temple in Siraj Village, District Narowal, which collapsed due to torrential rainfall on August 21, 2026.*
⭕️ Contrary to what the Dawn has claimed, *the adjoining land had been leased to a seminary, but the… pic.twitter.com/0EDNWs3Rad
— Government of Punjab (@GovtofPunjabPK) September 1, 2026
Punjab Minister for Minority Affairs Sardar Ramesh Singh Arora personally visited the site and inspected the temple. The provincial government has assured that the portion of the structure damaged by the rain will be rebuilt and restored.
The Punjab government stressed that responsible journalism requires a clear distinction between allegations, claims and verified facts. It warned that spreading unverified reports about sensitive religious sites could seriously undermine interfaith harmony, Pakistan’s reputation and public trust.
The government reiterated its commitment to protecting religious sites and addressing damage caused by natural disasters.
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