Sikh devotees seek direct flights to London, Vancouver

Tribune News Service
Amritsar, July 16

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The Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) is set to start the Sialkot-London flight for the facilitation of Sikh diaspora to reach Gurdwara Kartarpur Sahib to celebrate the 550th Gurpurab of Guru Nanak Dev. So local Sikhs also demand from the Central Government to start direct flight between Amritsar-London and Vancouver.

Prof Mohan Singh and Kulwant Singh said, “Pakistan is desperately short of foreign exchange. The Pakistan government very well knows that Air India is not favourably disposed towards Amritsar airport. Since Air India’s attitude towards operating the flight from Amritsar is lackadaisical, its counterpart in Pakistan has taken the lead.”

They claimed that Pakistan government is diverting a slot from other airports and the PIA will launch once a week flight.

Harjap Singh Aujla in a communiqué to Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri reminded him that while campaigning for the Amritsar Lok Sabha seat he had announced to make Sri Guru Ram Das Jee International Airport a hub and it will be connected to all important cities of the world through international flights.

He said ahead of the historic Gurpurab, the Indian government must start a direct flight between Amritsar-London and Vancouver.

This flight will take the NRIs from Canada, USA and Europe to the Golden Temple. From here, the devotees could cross over to Pakistan to pay their obeisance at historic Gurdwaras and will come back here to catch the returning flight.

In this way, there connection with Sikh shrines in India will remain intact. Otherwise, they will land in Pakistan and visit holiest Gurdwaras in India for a brief time and then return from Pakistan.