Pakistan has issued visas to more than 6,500 Sikh pilgrims from India, enabling them to take part in the Baisakhi festival at several sacred gurdwaras throughout the country.
As per the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi, the pilgrims are scheduled to visit Pakistan from April 10 to April 19 to observe Baisakhi—a significant event in Sikhism that honors the creation of the Khalsa by Guru Gobind Singh in 1699.
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During their visit, the Sikh devotees will offer prayers at prominent religious sites, including Gurdwara Panja Sahib in Hasan Abdal, Gurdwara Nankana Sahib—the birthplace of Guru Nanak Dev Ji—and other major gurdwaras in the Punjab region.
Saad Ahmed Warraich, Pakistan’s Charge d’Affaires, emphasized that the large number of visas granted reflects Pakistan’s dedication to encouraging interfaith harmony and deepening religious and cultural connections.
“Pakistan remains committed to facilitating religious tourism and will continue to welcome pilgrims from all faiths to visit holy places,” Warraich stated.
This initiative is part of the 1974 Bilateral Protocol on Visits to Religious Shrines, an agreement between India and Pakistan that allows pilgrims from both countries to travel across the border for spiritual purposes.
Each year, numerous Sikh pilgrims from India and other parts of the world journey to Pakistan to participate in major religious occasions, including Baisakhi, the birth anniversary of Guru Nanak, and the commemoration of Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s death.
To ensure the pilgrims’ comfort and safety, Pakistani officials have made comprehensive arrangements for their stay.
