Pakistan

Pakistan issues 3,000 visas to Sikh pilgrims from India

Visas issued for Baba Guru Nanak Dev Ji's 554th birthday celebrations

News Desk November 23, 2023

Sikh pilgrims at the Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Kartarpur near the India-Pakistan border on September 22, 2020. PHOTO: AFP

Pakistan has issued approximately 3,000 visas to Sikh pilgrims from India on the occasion of the 554th Birthday Celebrations of Baba Guru Nanak Dev Ji. The pilgrims are set to attend the event in Pakistan, including visits to significant religious sites such as Dera Sahib, Panja Sahib, Nankana Sahib, and Kartarpur Sahib.

The Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi facilitated the issuance of these visas for Sikh pilgrims, allowing them to participate in the birthday celebrations scheduled to take place in Pakistan from November 25 to December 4, 2023. The visa allocation is part of the ongoing framework established by the Pakistan-India Protocol on Visits to Religious Shrines in 1974.

The Sikh Yatrees from India visiting Pakistan will have the opportunity to observe various religious festivals and occasions during their pilgrimage. The pilgrimage holds special significance for followers of Sikhism, particularly during the birthday celebrations of Baba Guru Nanak Dev Ji, a revered figure in the Sikh faith.

Aizaz Khan, the Charge d’Affaires, extended heartfelt felicitations to the Sikh pilgrims on this auspicious occasion. He conveyed warm wishes for a safe and meaningful journey as the pilgrims embark on their visit to the religious shrines in Pakistan.

The issuance of visas to Sikh Yatrees from India to visit Pakistan during religious festivals is part of an annual tradition. This tradition reflects the commitment to promoting people-to-people exchanges, fostering religious harmony, and facilitating individuals in observing their religious practices.