Lahore: Three thousand Sikh pilgrims/ Yatrees from India entered Pakistan via Wagah border to participate in the Sikh religious festival Vasakhi where Provincial Minister for Minority Affairs/Pradhan PSGPC Ramesh Singh Arora, Provincial Transport Minister Bilal Akbar Khan, Addl secretary Shrines Rana Shahid Saleem, Senior officials of the ETPB, Sardar Sawant Singh, Sardar Tara Singh, Sardar Dr. Mampal Singh, Sawant Kaur and other committee members were also among those welcomed the Yatrees. Indian High commission issued 10 Days Visa while Sikh pilgrims will visit Gurudwara Janam Asthan Nankana Sahib, Gurudwara Sacha Sauda, Gurudwara Darbar Sahib Kartarpur and go to Gurudwara Panja Sahib Hasan Abdal through various trains where the main event of Visakha Mela 2024 will be held on Sunday. Indian Sikh pilgrims will also visit Gurudwara Rohri Sahib Aminabad and Gurudwara Shri Dera Sahib Lahore. On this occasion, Additional Secretary Shrines Rana Shahid Saleem said that all the arrangements including accommodation, security, transport and medical for the guests have been completed. The main event of Vasakhi Mela will be held on April 14 at Gurdwara Panja Sahib Hasan Abdal. The Sikh pilgrims will leave for India after completing their 10-day pilgrimage on April 22. Apart from beautifying the Gurdwara, other special arrangements have been made by the Trust Board. Provincial Minority Affairs Minister Ramesh Singh Arora said that the Sikh pilgrims will be provided free accommodation, food, transport and medical facilities in Pakistan. He further said that Gurdwara Panja Sahib has been decorated with new colours, decorations and electric kettles, while all arrangements are complete in Guru Dwara Janam Asthan Nankana Sahib and other gurdwaras. He assured that staff of ETPB will be available 24 hours for the service of Pilgrims while better arrangements also have been made for journalists for media coverage. After inaugurating the shuttle bus service, Provincial Transport Minister Bilal Akbar Khan said that the bus shuttle service has been officially inaugurated to take Sikh pilgrims from Wagah Check Post to Wagah Railway Station. Talking to the media at the Wagah border, Bharatiya Janata Party leader Kulant Singh and Deputy Party Leader Amarjit Singh thanked the government of Pakistan and Punjab and said that they are very happy to come to Pakistan. Millions of Sikhs are eager for the pilgrimage and hopefully Hospitality of Pakistan will be remembered to promote brotherhood and Love.
