The Pakistani state government has appointed the Christian officer as the state’s first vice-committee of Christianity, assigned her to lead major districts, marking important milestones for the larger representative of the religious minority in Pakistani civil servants.
According to an official notice issued by Chief Secretary Sindh on April 12, Sarah Jabd, a 18th grader Pakistan Administration (PAS), served as the chief minister’s secretary and immediately worked as collector/deputy chief of Sangal district, Sindha district of Pakistan.
As a qualifier for the 2014 civil service exam, Javed brings over a decade of field and management experience to her new role. She has served remarkably in the Sadar and Site Area of the provincial capital, Karachi, as well as in the Hyderabad district. She also served for over a year as additional deputy committee member-I for Tharparkar, one of Sindh’s most underdeveloped districts.
During the Covid-19 pandemic, Javed has played a key role in managing response efforts in the southern part of Karachi and coordinating healthcare logistics, implementing safety protocols and working closely with frontline workers. Her performance won her national awards and exceptional public service awards.
Her appointment has been widely welcomed as a groundbreaking achievement of the Christian community in Pakistan. This is a religious minority that has long contributed to the development of the Muslim state despite facing systemic challenges such as faith-based persecution and religious discrimination.
Symbol of progress
Pakistani Christian Circles and social media users have declared the appointment of Javed as a beacon of hope for equal opportunities for all communities of public service.
“We welcome the appointment of the Sindh government as a deputy commissioner of Christian officers in Sangal district. Her leadership in Sangal district is expected to bring new energy to local governance, particularly in areas such as healthcare, education and comprehensive community development.”
Augustine, former Minister of Human Rights and Minority in Punjab, said he hopes to see more Christians joining Pakistani civil servants.
“The late Shabaz Bhatti helped me to obtain a 5% quota for religious minorities in government work, but as Minister I worked hard to obtain a 2% quota for minorities in the public institutions of higher education in Punjab. The purpose of both quotas was to ensure that our marginalized Christian community and other minority groups could make the development and progress of Pakistan.
Christian real estate businessman and social scientist Azam Mayraj said her daughter, Alusha Azam, is the only woman out of five Christians who passed the special civil service exam last year, and is pleased that Jabd has become the first Christian woman to lead the district.
“The achievements to open the door to civil servants for Christians go to Shahbaz Batti’s vision. Before the quota was approved in 2012, government work was open to Christians, but the majority of applicants were unable to compete for a variety of reasons, but things have now changed,” Myraj said.
In a Facebook post, Christian Moses Julius congratulated her on her groundbreaking appointment.
“I want to congratulate Sarah Jave for being promoted to Sindh’s vice-committee, she is the first Christian woman to be promoted as DC Sindh.
Muslim Facebook user Tinker Sohail Osman Ali hoped that the Christian officer would succeed in her new role.
“Well done and congratulations, Sarah Javed has stood out many times since you began your government career in 2014 with your appointment as Sindh’s first deputy Christian minister.
Christians make up about 1.6% of Pakistan’s population and have historically played an important role in the country’s education, healthcare and civil servants. Christian experts have long served as doctors, nurses, teachers, social workers and military personnel.
Prominent Pakistani Christians include Justice Al Cornelius, the only non-Muslim Supreme Court of Pakistan’s Supreme Court, and Dr Ruth Pfau, a Catholic nun and doctor known as “Pakistani mother Teresa.”
