Bureau Report
NEW DELHI: Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi on Monday issued 100 visas to Indian Hindu pilgrims for visiting their religious sites in Pakistan.
A group of Indian Hindu pilgrims is visiting Pakistan to participate in the 314th birth anniversary celebrations of Shiv Avtari Satguru Sant Shadaram Sahib, at Shadani Darbar Hayat Pitafi, Sindh from November 22 to December 03, 2022, said a press release received here.
Shadani Darbar is an over three hundred years old temple and is a sacred place for Hindu devotees from across the globe. The Shadani Darbar was founded in 1786 by Sant Shadaram Sahib, who was born in Lahore in 1708.
Under the Pakistan-India Protocol on Visits to Religious Shrines of 1974, thousands of Sikh and Hindu pilgrims from India visit Pakistan to attend various religious festivals/occasions every year. Visas issued by the Pakistan High Commission are in addition to the visas granted to Hindu and Sikh pilgrims participating in these events from other countries.
The issuance of pilgrimage visas to Hindu and Sikh pilgrims is in line with the Government of Pakistan’s efforts for facilitating visits to religious shrines. It is also reflective of Pakistan’s respect for religious places of all faiths and efforts for promoting interfaith harmony.
It’s worthy to mention here that, Pakistan on November 4 had issued 2,942 visas to Sikh pilgrims from India to attend the birth celebrations of Baba Guru Nanak scheduled to be held in Pakistan from November 6 to 15, a statement from the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi said.
“The issuance of visas is covered under the framework of the Pakistan-India Protocol on Visits to Religious Shrines of 1974,” it added.
Every year a large number of Sikh pilgrims from India visit Pakistan to observe various religious festivals and occasions. The visas issued from New Delhi are in addition to the visas granted to Sikh pilgrims participating in these events from other countries.
“The issuance of pilgrimage visas to religious pilgrims by the High Commission is in line with the government of Pakistan’s commitment to fully implement the Bilateral Protocol on Visits to Religious Shrines between the two countries,” it added.
Expressing his views on the auspicious occasion, Charge d’Affaires Aftab Hasan Khan, had extended his heartfelt felicitations to the pilgrims and wished them a rewarding and fulfilling yatra.
“Pakistan takes immense pride in preserving sacred religious places and providing necessary facilitation to the visiting pilgrims,” he added.
