ISLAMABAD – Over 2,800 Sikh pilgrims will reach Pakistan to visit theirreligious sites as part of Baisakhi celebrations.
Pakistan issued visas to pilgrims as a peace gesture towards the Sikhcommunity in India to participate in the annual Baisakhi celebrations.
Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi issued the visas in light of theframework of the Pakistan-India Protocol on Visits to Religious Shrines of1974.
Charge d’Affaires of the Pakistan High Commission, Salman Sharif saidIslamabad is taking all steps to preserve sacred religious places andproviding facilitation to pilgrims. Stern security measures have been madefor religious festival.
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Sikh pilgrims will visit Dera Sahib, Panja Sahib, Nankana Sahib, andKartarpur Sahib during the festivity. The visitor will go back to India onApril 21 after completing their visit.
The Baisakhi Festival marks the beginning of the solar year. Baisakhi hasspecial significance for Sikhs as on this day in 1699, their tenth GuruGobind Singh Ji organized the order of the Khalsa. It marks New Year Dayfor the Sikh community; the main event is held at the Gurdwara Panja Sahibshrine in the town of Hasan Abdal outside Islamabad every year.
