Gurudwara body demands Rs1.3b for renovation work

Facelift of these worship places are being planned to celebrate 550th Gurpurab in historic way

LAHORE: The Pakistan Sikh Gurudwara Prabandhak Committee has demanded Rs1.3 billion from the Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB) and the federal government to carry out renovation work at the Janam Asthan, Nankana Sahab and other gurdwaras.

The uplifting of these worship places are planned to celebrate the 550th Gurpurab, the birthday of Guru Nanak Devji in a historic way. Gurpurab will be celebrated in November, 2019.

The committee has sent a recommendation for the Kar Seva (offering service for a religious cause, often for constructing a place of worship). The Kar Seva project includes the construction of 200 new rooms in Janam Asthan Nankana Sahab which would cost Rs20 million. The complete construction and renovation work would cost around Rs1.3 billion.



A recommendation for replacing two current transformers with two 600KV transformers has also been made. Similarly, the highest Khalisa would be put in Janam Asthan, upon which a special mark of the Khanda Sikhs and 550th Gurpurab would be written. The map of the central park would be changed, making way for yatris to enter the central gate to visit Asthan.

The location of the fountain would also be changed. The Benanki wells would be repaired. Steps have also been recommended to prevent Amrat Jal from pollution. The dilapidated dome and roofs of the central Asthan would be repaired. A huge shoe rack would also be built alongside of the central entry gate of the Janam Asthan. Palki Sahab would be revamped. The Asthan of Dilip Singh and Varyam Singh would also be repaired and a boundary wall would be constructed and special lighting arrangements on Janam Asthan are also part of the project.

A seminar will be held in which scholars belonging to different religions are expected to attend. As far as international participants were concerned, Gurmat Samagam experts would also attend the seminar. The committee also suggested closing the road between the college and Langar Hall for 10 days, with a makeshift tent city set-up in the college which would cater 20,000 to 25,000 attendees. They also suggested to establish a second tent city at Gurdwara Sahib where the local Sikh yatirs will stay, while Sikh yatris coming from abroad will be accommodated in the rooms.



The committee has also demanded that coins of Rs20, Rs50 or Rs100 denomination be released in the memory of the 550th birth anniversary, containing the visual depiction of the Asthan and 550 inscribed on the obverse and reverse sides respectively. Besides this, the Prakash Asthan would be renovated and 40 new rooms would be constructed in the Malji Sahib.

The committee’s central leader Sardar Bishan Singh has approved all the suggestions which have been sent to the federal government. It is estimated that around 50,000 Sikh yatirs would reach Pakistan from India and all over the world. He said it would be ensured that all Sikhs yatris coming from India would get their visas on time. He also said Minister for Religious Affairs and Religious Harmony Sardar Muhammad Yousuf has already announced to launch a coin on the 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 30^th, 2018.