Sikh Yatrees arrive in Lahore

LAHORE: Around 2,200 Sikh Yatrees arrived here at Wagah Railway Station Friday from India to celebrate Besakhi Festival.

Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB) Chairman Tahir Ehsan, Secretary Board Tariq Wazir, Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (PSGPC) Pardhan Sardar Tara Singh, local Sikh leaders and board officials received them.

The ETPB chairman said the best arrangements, including foolproof security, accommodation and medical, had been made for the yatrees. He said that a large number of Sikh yatrees wanted to come to Pakistan on the 550th 'Janam Din' of Baba Guru Nanak Sahib for which special arrangements had been made for them. "We congratulate the Sikh yatrees on Besakhi," he added.

Speaking on the occasion, group leader Ravinder Singh Khalsa thanked the Pakistan government and the ETPB for making marvellous arrangements for them. He said the Sikh community wanted that a good number of visas be issued to the community on the 550th birth anniversary of Sikhism Founder Baba Guru Nanak so that more visitors could participate in the ceremonies.

He urged the both countries to complete work on the Kartarpur Corridor as early as possible so that pilgrims could come to their sacred place frequently. He demanded that an inn should be established at Nankana Sahib to facilitate pilgrims and visa period should also be extended.