Pakistan government takes a unique and important initiative for over 100,000 visiting Sikh Yatrees

LAHORE – The construction of a 250-metre tunnel is on the cards to providedirect, secure and hassle-free access to Sikh yatrees from the trainstation to Gurdwara Nankana Sahib. The project will be funded by the Sikhcommunity across the globe.Starting from a specially built platform along the city’s railway line, thededicated tunnel will pass through the football grounds of GovernmentNanknan Sahib Degree College and enter the Gurdwara uninterruptedly.The idea is the brainchild of Deputy Commissioner Nankana Sahib RajaMansoor Ahmad, who told APP on Sunday that the construction of tunnel willreduce the distance to half and save the journey from busy bazaars andtraffic congestion.

He said the tunnel was necessary as the 550th birth anniversary would becelebrated in November 2019 and more than 100,000 Sikh yatrees are expectedto visit the holy city.To a query, the DC said that the construction of the tunnel would helpovercome chronic traffic congestion, security and transportation issues,faced by the city administration during the constant influx of yatrees ondifferent occasions during the year.To another question, he said that the Evacuee Turst Property Board (ETPB)had issued no objection certificate (NOC), while the Pakistan Railways hadagreed to build a dedicated platform for the special Sikh yatree trains. Hesaid permission had also been sought from secretary, Punjab HigherEducation Department (PHED).General Secretary, Sikh Gurdwara Parbhandak Committee Pakistan (SGPCP)Sardar Gopal Singh said the Sikh community would bear the cost ofconstruction of the tunnel, adding that the tunnel would be completedbefore the Baba Guru Nanank’s 550th birth anniversary celebrations.Sardar Gopal said the tunnel was an important initiative, taken by DCNankana Sahib Raja Mansoor Ahmad and the Sikh community was thankful to thegovernment for easing out access to the ‘Mecca ofthe Sikhs’.To a query, he said the tunnel to the Gurdwara Sahib Guru Nanank would alsosave a lot of hassle regarding security and transportation during the Sikhcommunity visits. He said the SGPCP also planned to build an accommodationfor the yatrees along the tunnel.