Pakistan grants visas to 2,800 Sikh pilgrims from India for Baisakhi

LAHORE: Pakistan has issued visas to 2,800 Sikh pilgrims from India for the Baisakhi festival, which is set to begin on April 10.

Baisakhi, also known as Vaisakhi, is observed on the first day of the month of Vaisakh and also marks the start of the harvest season. The Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB) said, On the occasion of Baisakhi and the 327th Khalsa Janamdin celebrations, Pakistan has issued more than 2,800 visas to Sikh pilgrims from India.

According to an official statement, a meeting was held at the Punjab Home Department to complete security and hospitality planning for pilgrims arriving from India and other parts of the world. The meeting was chaired by Punjab Home Secretary Dr Ahmad Javed Qazi and Punjab Health Minister and Chairman of the Cabinet Committee on Law and Order Khawaja Salman Rafique.

Officials at the meeting were told that more than 2,800 Sikh pilgrims from India had received visas through the Pakistan High Commission and were due to reach Lahore through the Wagah Border on April 10.

The festival will continue from April 10 to 19, and more than 26,000 pilgrims from across the world are expected to take part. The main ceremony is scheduled for April 14 at Gurdwara Panja Sahib in Hasan Abdal.

The official statement said Rafique stressed that the security of Sikh pilgrims was the government’s top priority and instructed all district administrations to ensure full security arrangements and provide all required facilities.

ETPB Additional Secretary (Shrines) Nasir Mushtaq told the meeting that preparations had been completed, including accommodation in marquees, quality bedding, clean drinking water, air conditioning, and proper washroom facilities at gurdwaras and residential locations.

He said strict security arrangements would be ensured at all religious sites and nearby areas, with intelligence-based operations, close monitoring, CCTV cameras, and temporary security setups. He added that WhatsApp groups had been formed among administrative officers to maintain smooth coordination.

The report also noted that the Indian government had stopped its citizens from travelling to Pakistan after armed conflict between the two countries in May last year. However, in November, following protests by the Sikh community, the Modi administration allowed Sikh pilgrims to visit their religious sites in Pakistan on different occasions.

The Kartarpur Corridor, which provides visa-free access to Gurdwara Darbar Sahib, remains closed after the May 2025 conflict. India has cited security concerns, while Pakistan has kept the corridor open on its side and has asked India to do the same.