Provincial Minister for Minorities Affairs and president of the Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, Sardar Ramesh Singh Arora, visited the Evacuee Trust Property Board and chaired an important coordination committee meeting.
During the meeting, a detailed review of the preparations for the 555th birth anniversary celebrations of Guru Nanak Dev Ji was conducted. Important issues regarding the arrival and accommodation of Sikh pilgrims, the performance of rituals, and transportation were discussed.
Additional Secretary for Shrines, Saifullah Khokhar, briefed the provincial minister that the federal government has approved the schedule for the visit of Indian Sikh pilgrims to Pakistan. The Pakistani High Commission in Delhi will issue 10-day visas to approximately 3,000 Indian Sikh pilgrims, who will arrive via the Wagah Border on November 14.
Provincial Minister Ramesh Singh Arora and the Additional Secretary for Shrines will welcome the pilgrims. The pilgrims will be offered Guru’s Langar at Wagah Border and will be taken directly to Gurdwara Janam Asthan Nankana Sahib. The main event, “Bhog Akhand Path Sahib,” will be held on November 15 at Gurdwara Janam Asthan Nankana Sahib. Sikh pilgrims will visit various gurdwaras from November 16 to 22, briefed.
The provincial minister instructed that free accommodation, meals, and medical facilities be provided to the Sikh pilgrims, ensuring that they receive all possible assistance. He emphasized that Sikh pilgrims have always received love from Pakistan, and expressed hope that they will depart with wonderful memories once again.
The meeting was attended by Secretary Board Fareed Iqbal and representatives from 44 federal, provincial, and district departments.