By MM Special Correspondent,
New Delhi: On the eve of Baba Guru Nanak Dev’s 549th birthday anniversary celebrations, the Pakistan High Commission here has issued over 3800 additional visas to Sikh pilgrims from India.
Commenting on the occasion, Pakistan’s High Commissioner Sohail Mahmood said this was a “special gesture” by the Pakistan Government in view of the 559th anniversary celebrations of Baba Guru Nanak recommencing in earnest from this year.
Indian pilgrims got the visa from 21-30 November 2018 to participate in the celebrations of Baba Guru Nanak Dev Ji in Pakistan.
It is to mention that under the framework of the Pakistan-India Protocol on Visits to Religious Shrines of 1974, a large number of Sikh yatrees from India visit Pakistan to observe various religious festivals/occasions every year.
According to the Pakistan High Commission press release, the over 3800 visas issued by the Pakistan High Commission are in addition to the visas issued to Sikh pilgrims participating in the event from other countries.
High Commission claimed that this is by far the largest number of visas issued in recent years to Sikh yatrees for Baba Guru Nanak’s birth anniversary celebrations, well beyond the maximum number of 3000, mutually agreed between the two countries for this event.
“We extend profound felicitations to our brothers and sisters celebrating this auspicious occasion and wish all yatrees a spiritually fulfilling yatra”, the Pakistan High Commissioner said.
The issuance of pilgrimage visas to Sikh pilgrims is in line with the Government of Pakistan’s efforts for promoting visits to religious shrines and people-to-people interactions. This also reflects the commitment of the Government of Pakistan to faithfully implement the bilateral Protocol on Visits to Religious Shrines, Mahmood said .
Pakistan remains committed to preserving sacred religious places and extending all possible facilitation for the visiting pilgrims of all faiths, he added.
Major credit goes to initiative, camraderie and effort of Navjyot Sidhu in attending swearing in ceremony of Imran Khan despite much resistance. Truth does not change just because of politics of hijacking credit!
Anyway well done government– first positive step towards tolerance!