Islamabad, Pakistan: Pakistan has offered to set up a special corridor for Sikh pilgrims to visit Gurdwara Kartarpur Sahib, barely 3 km from the border, a senior official has said.
Pakistan is ready for talks with India to create such a special corridor for a safe passage for pilgrims, Syed Asif Hashmi, chief of the Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB) that is responsible for maintaining shrines of minority communities in Pakistan, told reporters at Hasanabdal on Friday.
Organisations representing Punjabi Sikhs have been demanding the establishment of a passport and visa-free passage between Dera Baba Nanak on the Indian side and Gurdwara Kartarpur Sahib in Pakistan’s Narowal district.
According to Sikh history, Guru Nanak Dev Ji spent 17 years at the site where Gurdwara Kartarpur is situated.
Hashmi also said the ETPB has spent more than Rs 400 million for the upkeep, maintenance and improvement of facilities at gurdwaras to make visits by Sikh pilgrims comfortable.
A 500-gallon water tank has been constructed at Nankana Sahib and 20 washrooms have been established at Dera Sahib, Kartarpur and Sacha Saoda.
Work on Dewan Hall in Kartarpura temple will begin during the next fiscal year, he said. More than 100 Indian Sikhs have arrived for a visit to Gurdwara Punja Sahib to participate in religious rituals. They are on a 10-day pilgrimage in connection with a function marking the death anniversary of Maharaja Ranjit Singh.
ETPB Deputy Secretary (Shrines) Syed Faraz Abbas said the Sikhs are being provided foolproof security during their stay in Pakistan.
with thanks : sikhsangat : link above.
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