Pakistan issues visas to 47 Indian Hindu pilgrims

ISLAMABAD: The government has issued visas to two groups of 47 Indian Hindu pilgrims during the current month intending to visit Katas Raj temples in Chakwal and Shandani Darbar in Sukkur, High Commission in New Delhi said Tuesday.

The pilgrims will visit Shree Katas Raj Temples, also known as Qila Katas or complex of Katas Temples in Chakwal district from December 23-29. Another group of 44 Indian Hindu Yatrees returned on Monday after attending 312th birth anniversary celebrations of Shiv Avtari Satguru Sant Shadaram Sahib in Sukkur from December 15 to 21. More than three centuries old temple, Shadani Darbar, is a holy place for devotees from across the world. The temple was founded in 1786 by Sant Shadaram Sahib, who was born in Lahore in 1708. Pakistan’s High Commission in a statement said thousands of Indian Sikh and Hindu pilgrims visit Pakistan under the bilateral Protocol on Visits to Religious Shrines of 1974, to observe several religious festivals/occasions every year.

It said the visas issued from New Delhi were in addition to the visas granted to Sikh and Hindu pilgrims participating in these events from other countries.

“Pakistan remains committed to preserving sacred religious places and extending all possible facilitation for the visiting pilgrims of all faiths,” the High Commission said.