LAHORE: Under the arrangements of the Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB) and the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony, the Sikh pilgrims who came from India on a 10-day religious pilgrimage to Pakistan have returned to their homeland.
The President of the Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, Sardar Ramesh Singh Arora, and ETPB Additional Secretary Shrines, Nasir Mushtaq, along with committee members, bid farewell to the pilgrims at the Wagah Border.
Before crossing back into India, the Sikh pilgrims spoke to the media, and said: “We are often frightened by negative propaganda about Pakistan, but our experience has been completely opposite. The government of Pakistan made excellent arrangements for our stay. We received even more respect and affection here than in our own country. Our gurdwaras in Pakistan are safe and well preserved.”
The Jatha Leader of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), Bibi Guro Rinder Kaur, said:
“All the pilgrims who came with our group are thankful to the Evacuee Trust Property Board and the Government of Pakistan for the wonderful arrangements. We enjoyed complete freedom to perform our religious rituals and visit our holy sites. Security, accommodation, and medical facilities were exceptionally well organized. Each year, the hospitality and arrangements get even better.”
Speaking to the media at the Wagah Border, ETPB Additional Secretary Shrines, Nasir Mushtaq, said:
“The Government of Pakistan has never rejected any Sikh pilgrim’s visa application. This year as well, special visas were issued at our request. Hosting Sikh and Hindu pilgrims and promoting religious tourism are among our top priorities. The pilgrims returning from Pakistan will take with them a message of peace and love to the whole world.”
He added that the Evacuee Trust Property Board spends significant funds on the hospitality of Hindu and Sikh pilgrims, as well as on the renovation, beautification, and security of minority worship sites in Pakistan.
During the farewell ceremony at the Wagah Border, on behalf of the Federal Minister for Religious Affairs, Sardar Muhammad Yousaf, and ETPB Chairman, Dr. Sajid Mahmood Chauhan, special gifts and flower bouquets were presented to the Sikh pilgrims. Addressing the media, Sardar Ramesh Singh Arora, President of the Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, expressed gratitude to the Government of Pakistan, the ETPB, provincial departments, and especially the security agencies for their excellent hospitality and arrangements.
He said, “Every Sikh around the world loves the sacred land of our Gurus — Pakistan. We urge the Government of India to immediately reopen the Kartarpur Corridor and allow more Sikh pilgrims to visit Pakistan.”
After completing immigration and other formalities, the Sikh pilgrims left Pakistan through the Wagah Border, carrying with them fond memories of their visit.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
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