200 Hindu pilgrims from India to visit Pakistan on New Year

Dr Ramesh Kumar, the Pakistan Hindu Council (PHC) patron-in-chief and PTI MNA, has announced boosting religious tourism between India and Pakistan in a bid to bring the people of the two countries closer.

He said this while speaking to media before leaving for Wagah border for welcoming an Indian delegate comprising 200 Hindu pilgrims, visiting Pakistan for four days from January 1 to 4, 2022.

“This is actually in continuation of the previous historical visit, held in November 2021,” he said, adding that, “The primary purpose of Hindu pilgrims, led by Shriman Mahatma Param Nityanand Ji, arriving here is to visit the Samadhi of Shri Param Hans Ji Maharaj / Teri Temple”.

“Every month one delegation from Pakistan will also depart for India for visiting Dargah of Khwaja Nizam Uddin Aulia in Dehli and Dargah of Khawaja Ghareeb Nawaz in Ajmer Sharif whereas one international delegation will arrive here in Pakistan for visiting religiously significant sites of Hinduism, including the Samadhi of Shri Param Hans Ji Maharaj / Teri Temple and Hinglaj Mata Temple Balochistan,” he stated.

Also read: Pakistan issues visas to Indian Hindu pilgrims to visit historic temples

Dr Ramesh said that PHC has reached an important agreement with Pakistan International Airline (PIA) under which Hindu pilgrims across the world, including India, would be facilitated for pilgrimage to holy places in Pakistan. However, Indian pilgrims are not allowed by the Indian government to fly on Pakistani airline and that's why, now they will first arrive in Lahore via Wagah and then fly to Peshawar by special flight.

“Pakistan Hindu Council has also decided to cooperate with Air India for the provision of transport facilities to Indian pilgrims,” he said, adding that Indian airline flights will be operated from New Delhi to Peshawar and Karachi in February 2022. “The purpose is to provide travel facilities for pilgrimage to Teri Temple and Hanglaj Mata Temple Balochistan,” he said.

According to Dr Ramesh Kumar Vankwani, the Government of Pakistan is providing full support in order to promote faith tourism.

During the four-day visit to Pakistan, Hindu pilgrims will also visit Gurdwara Panja Sahib Hassan Abdal, Katas Raj Temple, Raja Ranjit Singh's Samadhi, Minar-e-Pakistan, Shahi Qila and Badshahi Masjid among other historical sites.

Talking about Pakistani pilgrims, he announced that PHC would arrange a four-day visit of Pakistani citizens, including parliamentarians, to visit Ajmer Sharif, Dehli and Jaipur after January 20.

“A series of flights will start from both the countries every month to facilitate religious pilgrims,” he emphasised adding that Pakistani pilgrims will visit India on the PIA flights whereas Air India will bring Indian passengers to Pakistan.

He hoped that the promotion of religious tourism could bring the people of the two countries closer together.