Pak mission issues 3000 visas to Sikh pilgrims
The High Commission also wished a spiritually rewarding ‘yatra’ to the pilgrims visiting Pakistan on this occasion.
The High Commission also wished a spiritually rewarding ‘yatra’ to the pilgrims visiting Pakistan on this occasion.
The Sikh devotees were travelling from a gurdwara in Lahore to Peshawar in the bus when it was hit by the train en route to Lahore from Karachi.
While speaking to the media in Pakistan, a number of pilgrims praised the initiative to open the Kartarpur Corridor to facilitate the Sikh community.
Construction of the 4.2 km-long Kartarpur corridor is targeted to be completed by October 31, a week before the celebrations to mark the 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev.
Pakistan has decided to complete the process of issuance of visas to Sikh pilgrims by September 30 to facilitate their participation at the 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev in Nankana Sahib on November 12.
The government approved the development of Kartarpur corridor from Dera Baba Nanak in Punjab’s Gurdaspur district to the international border to facilitate Sikh pilgrims visiting Gurdwara Darbar Sahib.
The corridor project, with all modern amenities and facilities, would be implemented with the central government funding.
New Delhi will also also request Islamabad to recognise the sentiments of the Sikh community and develop a corridor with suitable facilities in their territory as well.
Pakistan’s High Commissioner Sohail Mahmood said this was a “special gesture” by the Pakistan Government in view of the 550th-anniversary celebrations of Guru Nanak commencing in earnest from this year.
“They (Pakistan) are ready to open the corridor of Kartarpur Sahib on the 550 birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Ji. There can be no bigger happiness than this for the people of Punjab,” said Sidhu.
