NEW DEHLI , OCTOBER,03 :
The central government has granted permission for Sikh pilgrims to travel to Pakistan for the upcoming Prakash Purab, the birth anniversary of Sikhism founder Guru Nanak Dev, sources said on Thursday. However, the approval applies only to “some selected groups,” with state governments responsible for recommending eligible devotees to the Centre.
The pilgrimage would be conducted under the framework of the 1974 bilateral protocol governing visits to religious shrines.
According to officials cited by ANI, “The state government concerned will recommend to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). Acting on MEA’s inputs, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) will give further clearance for the visit, to jathas [groups of pilgrims].”
The selected devotees would travel to Pakistan via the Attari-Wagah border and visit prominent gurdwaras associated with Guru Nanak Dev, including his birthplace Nankana Sahib and Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Kartarpur. The groups would be facilitated by the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) in coordination with Pakistan’s Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB).
(TOI)