Pakistan issues visas to over 220 Hindu pilgrims from India

SUKKUR/NEW DELHI: Pakistan has issued visas to over 220 Hindu pilgrims from India to attend the 310th birthday celebrations of Shiv Avtari Satguru Sant Shadaram Sahib in Sukkur, the High Commission in New Delhi said on Wednesday.

A large number of Indian Sikh and Hindu pilgrims visit Pakistan every year to observe various religious festivals under the framework of the Pakistan-India Protocol on Visits to Religious Shrines of 1974.

"The issuance of pilgrimage visas is in line with the Government of Pakistan's efforts for promoting visits to religious shrines and people-to-people exchanges. It also reflects the commitment of the Government of Pakistan to faithfully implement the bilateral Protocol on Visits to Religious Shrines," the Pakistan High Commission said in a statement.

The birthday celebrations of Shiv Avtari Satguru Sant Shadaram Sahib are taking place at the Shadani Darbar Tirth, a 300-year old temple, from December 5 to Dec 16. The foundations of the Shadani Darbar, a sacred place for devotees from across the world, were laid at Hayat Pitafi Tehsil, Mirpur Mathelo, Ghotki district in 1786 by Sant Shadaram Sahib, who was born in Lahore in 1708.

More than 3,800 Sikh pilgrims returned to India from Pakistan on November 30 after participating in the 549th birth anniversary celebrations of Baba Guru Nanak Dev Ji. During their visit, Prime Minister Imran Khan performed the ground-breaking ceremony for the 'Kartarpur Corridor' on the Pakistan side of the border along with prominent guests from India.

"Pakistan remains committed to preserving sacred religious places and providing all possible facilitation for the visiting pilgrims of all faiths," said the High Commission.