Peshawar's historic gurdwara faces ruin

The centuries-old Bhai Joga Singh Gurdwara, one of Peshawar's historic Sikh places of worship, has fallen into disrepair due to the non-release of funds for its restoration.

The gurdwara, located in the densely populated Dabgari area, was badly damaged in the devastating 2005 earthquake but remains unrepaired to this day.

The structure, believed to be over 200 years old, is now in a fragile state. Cracks have appeared in the walls of its upper floors and rooms, while rainwater seeps through the damaged roofs, worsening its condition over time.

Minority Members of the Provincial Assembly (MPAs) Gurpal Singh and Askar Pervez visited the site recently and expressed grave concern over its deteriorating state. MPA Gurpal Singh said that repeated appeals were made to the concerned authorities for the release of funds, but no progress has been made so far.

The two lawmakers have jointly submitted a resolution to the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Assembly Secretariat, urging the federal government to immediately allocate funds for the reconstruction and repair of the gurdwara. They stressed that the historic religious site, damaged in the 2005 earthquake, must be preserved without further delay.