The renovation work on the gurdwara, which started in January 2012, has largely been completed. PHOTO: EXPRESS
The gurdwara’s restoration, with a budget of Rs5.5 million, began in January 2012 and was meant to be completed within a year.
Sikhs have frequently asked the ETPB to resume restoration work at the sacred site in Hashtnagri and hand the building over to their community. However, the ETPB claims the decision will be taken by their new chairman. The board’s former chairman Syed Asif Hashmi was removed by the caretaker government and the post has been empty since then.
A Sikh elder, requesting anonymity, said community members had met the board officials several times and urged them to hand the gurdwara over as planned. “They continue to decline our requests,” he claimed.
“The main worship hall is in a better condition (than before) and does not require any renovation at all,” he said. “However, even after Rs5.5 million was allocated by the ETPB, only ceiling tiles were installed in addition to a whitewash.” The elder added the allocated money could be used for the restoration of two other historic buildings inside the gurdwara.
Gudwara Bhai Biba Singh is said to be at least three centuries old, and is located in Jugiwara, Hashtnagri. Until 2005, it housed a vocational training centre for girls, but after an earthquake the building was declared dangerous and the school was shifted to another building.
The gurdwara has not been used for worship since the partition of the sub-continent. Its history is not even known to local Sikhs who migrated to Khyber, Kurram and Orakzai agencies in the past two decades. But some elders believe the gurdwara was established at the time of the 10th Sikh Guru, Gobind Singh, who died in 1708, making this structure at least 300 years old.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 18th, 2013.
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I have been saying it for long that Pakistan holds some of the holiest places for Sikhs but we are not only letting these places decay we are also not allowing Sikhs to come and worship here. We cringe when Israeli's restricts muslims access to Al Aqsa but we are giving out same treatment to Sikhs when it comes to their access to the Sikh holiest sites. If we do not have the cash to maintain these places then ask the Sikh residence of India or whereever to contribute. Access to religious sites is a universal rite and we must not restrict access to it. I hope we appoint a Sikh to look after these sites rather than a muslim.
This place of worship should be fully restored so both the local Pakistani Sikhs and the Sikhs from other countries who come to Pakistan for pilgrimage can enjoy it.
Now Pakistan do some Better things about there minority worship places after katasraj temple the restoration of gurudwara shaib is a example of Pakistani government change their view about minority's but. There are many things who also change by Pakistani government is required.
@Hedgefunder - Easy with the bile there, friend. Let's have some perspective. Let's not forget that this has been reported by a Pakistani reporter on a Pakistani Newspaper's website. This Gurudwara is still there, after so many decades of being declared evacuee property. We can crib about it being neglected, but this isn't an example of "Zero tolerance towards minorities", rather contrarywise.
Like in India, all shades of the spectrum are represented in the Pakistani society - this website attracts a section of that society somewhat more amenable to reason, I suspect - Yes there are many problems with minorities there, just like in India - but if you really have the good of those minorities at heart, you'd be contributing better by encouraging such reports, not by issuing standard hate comments.
Oh and by the way - I am not only an Indian but a Brahmin by birth - just in case you were beginning to doubt my "Indianness".
What did anyone really expect from this land of pure ? Does anyone have any doubts as to the state's intentions, as its been obvious for long time that, society has been radicalised and have virtually zero tolerance towards the minority groups ! Hence this matter, as there hundreds of other smaller matters related to Hindu Temples, Christian Churches, Gurdwaras etc.....