100 arrive for Guru Nanak’s birthday

Around 100 of the 600 Sikhs from Northern America and Europe who applied for visas have arrived in Pakistan.


Express November 17, 2010

LAHORE: Around 100 of the 600 Sikhs from Northern America and Europe who applied for visas have arrived in Pakistan, an Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB) official told The Express Tribune on Tuesday.

The Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Perbandhak Committee (PSGPC) last month sent a large number of invitations to Sikhs all over the world to attend the event. Sardar Bishon Singh, the Baba Guru Nanak Mission chairman, said that this year the government of Pakistan was issuing visas only to those Sikhs who had been sponsored by a local organisation.

“Sikhs coming in on my sponsorship letter have told me that there were several others who wanted to visit but could not obtain a sponsorship letter,” he said.

He added that the government should have issued a visa to everyone willing to attend the event.

Sikhs from India:

Around 2,500 Sikhs from India are expected to reach Lahore on November 19 to participate in the 541st birthday celebrations of Baba Guru Nanak Dev Jee.

Syed Zahid Hussain, ETPB additional secretary (shirnes), said that all reception and travel arrangements for the Sikhs coming in from India were complete. “Under the Liaqat-Nehru Pact, 3,000 Sikh pilgrims arrive every year to attend the birthday celebrations of Guru Nanak,” he said.

Hussain said that the first train from India would reach the Wagha border crossing at 12 noon on November 19. He added that the ETPB has arranged three special trains to take the pilgrims from Wagha to Nankana Sahib. Besides, the ETPB would arrange langar for the pilgrims at the Wagha Railway Station.

Sikh pilgrims to stay in Pakistan for 10 days

The schedule available to The Express Tribune states that Sikh pilgrims from India will be taken to Nankana Sahib on three special trains.

From November 19 to November 22, the pilgrims will stay at Nankana Sahib to attend several ceremonies including Bhog on November 21. The Sikhs will present several demands to the Pakistani government about their gurdwaras.

From November 22 to 24, the pilgrims will stay at Gurdwara Panja Sahib at Hassan Abdal. A delegation of Sikhs will meet Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani in Islamabad.

The pilgrims will return to Lahore on November 25.

They will stay at Gurdwara Dera Sahib till November 28 and leave for India on November 28.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 17th, 2010.

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