Pakistan issues visas to Indian Hindu pilgrims to visit historic temples

Pakistan on Tuesday issued visas to Indian Hindu pilgrims to visit the Shadani Darbar in Sukkur and Katas Raj temples in Punjab's Chakwal district.

The Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi has issued visas to two groups of pilgrims in December 2020 to visit their revered sites in Pakistan.

On Monday, a group of 47 Indian pilgrims were issued visas to visit the Shree Katas Raj temples - also known as Qila Katas or complex of Katas Temples - in Chakwal from December 23 to 29.

The Katas Raj temples surround a sacred pond to Hindu devotees.

Meanwhile, another group of 44 pilgrims returned to India after their visit to Pakistan, where they participated in the 312th birth anniversary celebrations of Shiv Avtari Satguru Sant Shadaram Sahib in Sukkur from December 15 to 21.

Over three centuries old, the Shadani Darbar temple is a holy place for devotees from across the world. The temple was founded in 1786 by Sant Shamdaram Sahib, who was born in Lahore in 1708.

Thousands of Indian Sikhs and Hindu pilgrims visit Pakistan under the bilateral agreement 'Protocol on Visits to Religious Shrines of 1974' to observe several religious festivals every year.

The visas issued from New Delhi are in addition to the visas granted to Sikh and Hindu pilgrims participating in these events from other countries.

The issuance of pilgrimage visas to Sikh and Hindu pilgrims is part of the Government of Pakistan’s endeavors to facilitate their visits to religious shrines.

Pakistan remains committed to preserving sacred religious places and extending all possible facilitation for the visiting pilgrims of all faiths.