Pak ready to open visa office in Amritsar: official

Islamabad, Apr 7 (PTI) Pakistan government is ready to
open a visa office at Amritsar to facilitate Sikh pilgrims, a
top official said Tuesday ahead of a major festival that is
expected to be attended by thousands of Sikhs from around the
world.

Syed Asif Hashmi, Chairman of the Evacuee Property
Trust Board that is responsible for maintenance of shrines of
minority communities, said the government has placed no bar on
Sikh pilgrims from India visiting Pakistan.

The government is ready to open a visa office at
Amritsar to facilitate Sikh pilgrims, Hashmi said. He added
that, on his recommendation, the government had increased
visits by Sikhs to gurdwaras in Pakistan from four to eight a
year.

The visiting 'yatris' or pilgrims will be provided 25
new buses this year, he told state-run APP news agency.

Hashmi said the EPTB had finalised all arrangements
for the Besakhi festival beginning on April 12 that is
expected to be attended by over 16,000 Sikhs from across the
world, including India.

An international Guru Nanak University will be
established on 100 acres provided by the EPTB at Nankana
Sahib, the birthplace of the founder of the Sikh religion,
Hashmi said.

The administration block of the university is complete
and studies in two subjects will be started immediately. A
hospital will also be built alongside the university.

The government is also spending a huge amount for
refurbishing and beautifying gurdwaras and providing
facilities to Sikh yatris, the official said.

The renovation of the Gurdwara Janamsthan in Nankana
Sahib has been expedited and two new blocks are being added to
enhance the residential capacity of the gurdwara.

The official said Rs 45 million was spent last year on
repairing various gurdwaras while Rs 360 million is being
spent for this purpose this year, including the reconstruction
of the drainage system at the Gurdwara Panja Sahib in
Hasanabdal. PTI RHL
AM
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