Religious Minorities as Victims of Poverty: Exploring the Socio-Economic Impediments behind Their Poor Economic Status in Kohat, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa-Pakistan

Abstract Religious minorities are victims of poverty in many parts of the globe. They are subject to discrimination and marginalization which hamper their economic development. The purpose of this research study is to explore those factors that contribute to their poverty and low socioeconomic status in District Kohat of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa-Pakistan. The study was qualitative, based on the application of the grounded-theory method for data collection and analysis. The researcher interviewed a diverse group of respondents by using a purposive sampling technique: a total of 26 respondents were interviewed, which included 13 Christians, 7 Hindus, and 6 Sikhs. Semi-structured interviews were conducted until the saturation point of data was attained. The fundamental elements behind the poor economic position of the Participants were explored and summed up under one thematic code, namely socio-economic impediments, which included monopoly in job selection, joblessness, nature of jobs, lack of respect, workplace bullying, work hazards, exclusion in corporate sectors and lack of promotion. All the identified categories were arranged in a diagrammatic model, which provides an easier understanding of the economic position of religious minorities and developing their status both at national as well as global level.