Around 2,200 Sikh pilgrims from India, who arrived in Pakistan to participate in the Baisakhi Mela and Khalsa Janam Din celebrations, have reached Gurdwara Darbar Sahib Kartarpur after completing their visit to Gurdwara Panja Sahib.
Additional Secretary Shrines Nasir Mushtaq said the pilgrims will stay at Gurdwara Darbar Sahib Kartarpur for two days to perform religious rituals. To mark their visit, a traditional Punjabi sport, kabaddi, has been organised in the outer premises of the shrine.
Sikh pilgrims will reach Lahore on April 17th
The pilgrims will reach Lahore on April 17 after visiting Gurdwara Rori Sahib in Eminabad. They will stay at Gurdwara Dera Sahib in Lahore, and on April 19, they will depart for India via the Wagah Border.
Earlier, Additional Secretary Shrines of the Evacuee Trust Property Board, Nasir Mushtaq, along with Caretaker Asmatullah, saw off the Sikh pilgrims from Gurdwara Panja Sahib in Hassan Abdal and reviewed the security arrangements. The pilgrims were dispatched in three separate convoys under the supervision of Punjab Police contingents.
Under the supervision of Deputy Secretary Shrines Faraz Abbas, Security Officer Fazal Rabi, Security Officer Asim Chaudhry, and Noman Randhawa, staff of the Evacuee Trust Property Board accompanied the buses to assist the pilgrims. Rescue ambulances and a medical unit from the board are also travelling with the pilgrims to provide healthcare facilities throughout the journey.
‘Nankana Sahib’ to get Rs 900m residential upgrade
The government has initiated the construction of a modern residential block in Nankana Sahib with an estimated cost of approximately Rs 900million, aiming to enhance infrastructure and accommodation facilities in the historic city.
In addition to this project, development and renovation work are currently in progress at 18 gurdwaras across the region. The initiative is part of broader efforts to improve facilities for visitors and preserve religious heritage sites.
These projects will significantly boost religious tourism while providing improved amenities for pilgrims visiting Nankana Sahib, the birthplace of Guru Nanak.
Federal Minister for Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony, Sardar Muhammad Yousaf, has revealed this while addressing the main celebrations of the Vaisakhi Mela and the 327th Khalsa Birth Anniversary at Gurdwara Panja Sahib in Hassan Abdal, organised by the Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB), concluded with devotion and respect.
Sikh pilgrims from around the world, including India, participated in the celebrations and performed their religious rituals. Sardar Surjeet Singh, President of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, who travelled from India, expressed his gratitude to the Government of Pakistan and the ETPB.
Read more: Power outages due to Middle East tensions, relief soon: Awais Leghari
