LAHORE: A total of 1,932 Sikh yatrees concluded their 10-day religious visit to Pakistan on Thursday and returned to India via the Wagah Border, officials said.
The visit was organised under the Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB) and the Federal Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony. Yatrees were bid farewell at the border by Pradhan of the Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee Sardar Ramesh Singh Arora, ETPB Additional Secretary Shrines Nasir Mushtaq, and other committee members.
Speaking to the media before departing, the yatrees praised the arrangements, noting the respect and hospitality they received. “The government of Pakistan made excellent arrangements for our stay. We received even more respect and affection here than in our own country. Our gurdwaras in Pakistan are safe and well preserved,” they said.
Bibi Guro Rinder Kaur, Jatha leader of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), expressed gratitude for the visit. “All yatrees who came with our group are thankful to the ETPB and the government of Pakistan. We enjoyed complete freedom to perform religious rituals and visit holy sites. Security, accommodation, and medical facilities were exceptionally well organised.”
ETPB Additional Secretary Nasir Mushtaq reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to religious tourism, stating, “The government of Pakistan has never rejected any Sikh yatree visa application. Special visas were issued for this visit as well. Hosting Hindu and Sikh yatrees and promoting religious tourism are top priorities. Returning yatrees will carry Pakistan’s message of peace and love across the world.”
He added that the ETPB invests significantly in the hospitality, renovation, and security of minority worship sites throughout Pakistan.
During the farewell ceremony, special gifts and bouquets were presented to the yatrees on behalf of Federal Minister for Religious Affairs Sardar Muhammad Yousaf and ETPB Chairman Dr Sajid Mahmood Chauhan. Pradhan Sardar Ramesh Singh Arora thanked the Pakistani government, ETPB, provincial departments, and security agencies for their arrangements and hospitality.
The visit highlights Pakistan’s ongoing efforts to facilitate minority religious communities and strengthen cross-border religious and cultural ties.
