Guru Nanak’s 553rd anniversary concludes

The three-day celebrations marking the 553rd birth anniversary of Baba Guru Nanak concluded at Gurudwara Janam Asthan in Nankana Sahib on Tuesday.

Addressing the ceremony, Planning Development Minister Ahsan Iqbal extended felicitations to the Sikhs on the birth anniversary of Baba Guru Nanak, saying, “Baba Guru Nanak's teachings reflect tolerance, dignity of people, equal rights, interfaith harmony and help to the needy. Baba Guru Nanak taught and propagated a society free of discrimination.”

The minister expressed his commitment to provide best facilities to Sikh pilgrims coming from across the world and said the government would link Kartarpur with Nankana Sahib via motorway.

He disclosed that a road network would be laid to create a link from Nankana Sahib to facilitate the Sikh pilgrims.

Ahsan Iqbal appreciated the district administration and police officers to put in place effective and comprehensive measures, particularly security, to protect the Sikh pilgrims and avoid any unfortunate incident.

Thousands of Sikh pilgrims from Pakistan, India, Canada and European countries participated in the ceremony. Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB) Chairman Habibur Rehman Gilani said that work was in progress for the establishment of a library and a museum in Nankana Sahib to protect the Sikh heritage, adding that ETPB provided the best facilities to the community participating in the celebrations.

He said that special attention had been paid to the maintenance and renovation of Gurdwaras of the Sikh community.

Sikh delegation's leader Pardhan Sardar Ameer Singh and Sardar Gopal Singh expressed gratitude to the Pakistan government and the district administration for the hospitality extended to the Sikh yatrees.

Other Sikh leaders including Parmeet Singh, Diljeet Singh, Manjeet Singh, Partab Singh also attended the ceremony.