Pakistan issues visas for Hindu pilgrims from India

Tribune News Service
New Delhi, December 5 

Despite a freeze on official bilateral dialogue, religious pilgrimage continues between India and Pakistan. Days after the groundbreaking ceremony at Kartarpur Sahib, Pakistan High Commission in Delhi has issued visas to 220 Hindu pilgrims from India. Hindu pilgrims will attend the 310th birthday celebrations of Shiv Avtari Satguru Sant Shadaram Sahib at Sukkur from December 5-16.

Shadani Darbar Tirth, a 300-year old temple, is a sacred place for devotees and is included under the framework of the ‘India-Pakistan Protocol on Visits to Religious Shrines’, 1974.ThefFoundation of Shadani Darbar was laid at Hayat Pitafi Tehsil, Mirpur Mathelo, Ghotki district in 1786 by Sant Shadaram Sahib, who was born in Lahore in 1708.

"The issuance of pilgrimage visas is in line with the Government of Pakistan’s efforts for promoting visits to religious shrines and people-to-people exchanges," said a formal release from the Pakistan mission. On November 30, more than 3800 Sikh pilgrims returned to India from Pakistan after participating in the 549th birth anniversary celebrations of Guru Nanak Dev.