Pakistan gave visas to more than 6,700 Indian Sikh devotees on Baisakhi, for the first time in 50 years – Pakistan Gives Visas to More Than 6700 Indian Sikh Pilgrims on Baisakhi for the first time in 50 years NTC
The Pakistani government has issued visas to more than 6,700 Indian Sikh devotees for the religious festival to be held on 14 April on the occasion of Baisakhi this year, which has been the first time in the last 50 years. This information was given by an official on Tuesday.
This time 3,751 more visas given
Under the ‘Pakistan-India Religious Protocol Agreement 1974’, a maximum of 3,000 Sikh devotees are allowed to come to Pakistan for any religious festival. But this time the Pak government has issued a total of 6,751 visas, that is, 3,751 visas have been given more than the fixed number.
These additional visas have been issued at the special request of the Ministry of Religious Affairs and the Evacue Trust Property Board (ETPB). Additional Secretary of ETPB, Saifullah Khokhar gave this information. Sikh devotees from India will reach Pakistan on April 10 through the Wagah border, so that they can celebrate the festival of establishment of Sikh New Year and Khalsa Panth.
The festival will be celebrated in Gurudwara Nankana Sahib
Khokhar said that this is the first time that the Government of Pakistan has issued visas to the devotees more than the fixed number. The main program of Baisakhi will be held on 14 April at the Gurdwara birthplace, Nankana Sahib.
He said, ‘Pakistan is like a second house for Sikhs. We are fully ready to welcome all the devotees heartily. Earlier this main event used to be held in Gurdwara Panja Sahib, Hasan Abdal, but this time Nankana Sahib has been selected due to increasing number of devotees.
