Govt turns blind eye towards crumbling gurdwaras in Peshawar

PESHAWAR: Cracked walls, dilapidated floors and crumbling structure of the different gurudwaras across Peshawar speak volume about the government’s apathy towards Sikh’s place of worship.

Keeping the tradition alive, thousands of Sikhs from across the world come to Peshawar every year to perform their religious rituals. The Sikhs who travel to Peshawar every year claim that they were welcomed with open hearts and consider the city their second home.

However, the state of neglect of the structures is becoming a concern for the Sikh community.

Gurdwara Bhai Jugha Singh is in an abysmal condition, with almost all its walls cracking. However, no action has been taken to renovate the gurdwara.

Fed of the government’s inaction, the Sikh community took the initiative to collect funds for the restoration of Gurdwara Bhai Biba Singh in Jogiwara.

"The sikh community is carrying out renovation work on all its own, we were not provided any help by the government in this regard,” said a member of the Sikh community.

Another shared that Sikh community has worked collectively and invested Rs5.2million for the restoration work at the Gurdwara Bhai Biba Singh. “The Sikh community is working on its own.”

However, Sikh community has time and again demanded that government should pay more attention to the gurdwara.

“Gurdwaras are very important as they can help generate funds for the government,” added another member of the Sikh community.

Other members shared that government has often taken the opportunity to address grievances of the minorities, now government should focus on renovating minorities’ places of worship.