The state-funded renovation of one of Pakistan’s oldest churches, Christ Church, under the jurisdiction of the Anglican Diocese of Hyderabad, began on December 2, 2025.
Inaugurating the work, Anthony Naveed, Deputy Speaker of the Government of Sindh Province, said: “I thank God for this great blessing that we are able to initiate the renovation work of Christ Church. This initiative reflects the commitment of the Government of Sindh to promote interfaith harmony in the country, and its efforts to ensure religious freedom, solidarity with minority groups, and the protection of minority rights in Pakistan.”
Anglican Bishop Kaleem John, Abdul Fattah Sheikh, Director General of Archaeology, and other community leaders were present at the ceremony.
Built in 1846, Christ Church is a 179-year-old heritage structure with no record of previous reconstruction. It is located in Kotri, a city in the province of Sindh.
Expressing gratitude for the support behind the project, Deputy Speaker Naveed added: “I also appreciate the cooperation of the Chairman of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and the Chief Minister of Sindh for their support in preserving this historic church. This shows the PPP’s commitment to making Pakistan a place where people of all religions can live with dignity, and to maintaining peace and harmony among people of all faiths.”
Director General of Archaeology Abdul Fattah Sheikh stated that the restoration work is expected to be completed within five months, at a cost of 30 million Pakistan rupees (approximately 106,950 US dollars).
He added: “For us, the restoration of Christ Church is more than a heritage project. Considering its historical value and age, we are committed to ensuring the highest quality of work. The project aims not only to preserve heritage but also to promote social unity, brotherhood, love, and peace.”
Bishop Kaleem John of the Anglican Diocese of Hyderabad expressed his appreciation: “We thank God for this blessing, as it was long awaited. I also thank the Deputy Speaker, the Heritage and Archaeology Department, the Chief Minister of Sindh, and the Chairman of PPP for their kindness to our community in Kotri.”
According to the Cultural and Heritage Department of Sindh Province, there are over 3,200 registered heritage buildings in Sindh, with around 200 structures already restored, including several places of worship belonging to religious minorities. The historic St. Patrick’s Cathedral of the Catholic Archdiocese of Karachi is among the churches renovated with the support of the Government of Sindh.
Radio Veritas Asia (RVA), a media platform of the Catholic Church, aims to share Christ. RVA started in 1969 as a continental Catholic radio station to serve Asian countries in their respective local language, thus earning the tag “the Voice of Asian Christianity.” Responding to the emerging context, RVA embraced media platforms to connect with the global Asian audience via its 21 language websites and various social media platforms.
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