Lahore – In a vibrant display of religious harmony and tradition, Sikh pilgrims crossed the Wagah Border from India today to participate in the 327th International Vaisakhi Festival (Khalsa Janam Din). The pilgrims were accorded a warm and prestigious welcome by the Provincial Minister for Minority Affairs and Pardhan of the Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (PSGPC), Ramesh Singh Arora.
To honor the guests, the Provincial Minister joined the pilgrims for Langar at the border. Under the special directives of Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz Sharif, the Government of Punjab has established comprehensive facilitation centers. These include high-standard hospitality, dedicated transport, round-the-clock medical services, and foolproof security provided by elite contingents of the Punjab Police and Rangers.
The pilgrims, arriving from various Indian states including Amritsar, Haryana, and Delhi, were transported in three organized convoys to Gurdwara Janam Asthan, Nankana Sahib. During their ten-day stay, the yatris will visit several sacred sites, including Gurdwara Panja Sahib in Hasan Abdal, which will host the festival’s central ceremony on April 14.
Speaking to the media at the Wagah Border, Ramesh Singh Arora extended his heartfelt welcome to the pilgrims on the holy land of Baba Guru Nanak. He expressed his profound gratitude to Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif and Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif for their personal interest in ensuring world-class arrangements for the Sikh community. He also lauded the administrative efforts of the Ministry of Religious Affairs, Secretary Usman Ali Khan, and Additional Secretary Shrines Nasir Mushtaq.
”Pakistan is a land of peace and a champion of interfaith harmony,” stated the Provincial Minister. “The issuance of over 2,800 visas despite regional complexities is a testament to our commitment to religious diplomacy. For Sikhs worldwide, Pakistan is not a second home—it is their first home, as it is the very cradle where Sikhism originated.”
Minister Arora further highlighted that minorities in Pakistan enjoy absolute religious freedom and constitutional protection. He concluded by urging the Indian government to fully functionalize the Kartarpur Corridor, emphasizing that such steps are vital for promoting regional connectivity and honoring the emotional and spiritual ties of the global Sikh community.
