Pakistan High Commission has issued around three thousand visas to the Indian Sikh pilgrims to allow them to participate in the birth anniversary celebrations of Baba Guru Nanak. The visas have been issued under the Pakistan-India Protocol on Visits to Religious Shrines of 1974.
“Visas to the Sikh pilgrims have been issued under the Pakistan-India Protocol on Visits to Religious Shrines of 1974, which provides for the visit of 3,000 Sikh pilgrims from India for the birthday celebrations of Baba Guru Nanak,” a statement issued by the Pakistan High Commission in India read. “Thousands of Sikh pilgrims residing in countries other than India would also be visiting Pakistan to attend the event,” it added.
More than 8,000 Sikh pilgrims (yatrees) from around the world will be visiting Pakistan to celebrate the 552nd birth anniversary of Guru Nanak, from Nov. 17 to Nov. 26. During their stay, besides attending the event, the Sikh Yatrees will also visit different Gurdwaras in Pakistan, including Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Kartarpur and Gurdwara Janam Asthan in Nankana Sahib, according to the High Commission.
Prime Minister Imran Khan, since assuming office in August 2018, has taken various initiatives to facilitate minorities in Pakistan, especially the Sikh community, including the historic opening of the visa-free Kartarpur Sahib Corridor in November 2019.
The magnificent Gurdwara Kartarpur Sahib complex was a gift to the Sikh yatrees from India as well as the Sikh community from around the globe by the people of Pakistan and their leadership, on the occasion of the 550th birth anniversary of Baba Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikh religion.
Meanwhile, Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi extended felicitations to the Sikh community on the birth anniversary of Baba Guru Nanak. The High Commission also wished a spiritually gratifying Yatra to the pilgrims visiting Pakistan on this occasion.
The issuance of a maximum number of visas to Sikh pilgrims from India and other parts of the world is in line with the Pakistan government’s efforts to promote visits to religious shrines in the country.