Data on systematic discrimination against Christians in Pakistan was presented at the UN

According to a report submitted to the UN Human Rights Council, more than 70 Christians working in the sanitation sector have died in Pakistan since 1988 as a result of exposure to toxic gases. As reported by Orthodox Times, members of the Christian minority, who make up only 1.37% of the country’s population, are forced to fill about 80% of all positions in the sanitation sector, often putting themselves in mortal danger due to a lack of necessary personal protective equipment.

A report prepared by the NGO International Support for Human Rights emphasizes that the situation is exacerbated by systemic discrimination and caste-based prejudices. Studies show that municipal authorities in Pakistan often openly target non-Muslims or members of lower castes for their job openings. More than 55% of the workers surveyed stated that their religious or caste affiliation was the decisive factor that forced them to choose this dangerous profession.

According to the organization, since April 2026 alone, 16 deaths among sanitation workers due to suffocation and gas poisoning have been recorded in Pakistan. About 78.6% of the workers surveyed have never received protective clothing, and 57% face daily discrimination in the workplace. With low wages and a lack of permanent contracts, workers are afraid to complain about working conditions, as doing so could result in immediate dismissal.

Human rights advocates are calling on the UN to investigate these instances of discrimination and are demanding that Pakistani authorities ban the dangerous practice of manual sewer cleaning, provide workers with protective equipment, and hold accountable those responsible for creating conditions that endanger workers’ lives.