Amritsar: On the occasion of Khalsa Sajna Divas (Vaisakhi), the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) handed over visas and passports to Sikh devotees traveling to Pakistan for darshan of historical gurudwaras. The distribution ceremony was held at the SGPC office, in the presence of SGPC President Advocate Harjinder Singh Dhami and senior committee officials.
Speaking to the media, Advocate Dhami stated that the SGPC regularly organizes pilgrimage groups to Pakistan for Sikh devotees on significant historical occasions. This year, a total of 1,795 devotees were submitted for visa processing, out of which 1,763 visas were issued by the Pakistan Embassy in Delhi. The pilgrimage group is scheduled to depart on April 10 at 8:00 AM from the SGPC office.
Advocate Dhami also urged the governments of India and Pakistan to reopen the Kartarpur Corridor, highlighting the deep faith of Sikh devotees and emphasizing that the corridor should remain accessible for spiritual purposes. He further demanded the removal of passport requirements and the termination of the $20 fee imposed by the Pakistan government for pilgrims.
SGPC Secretary Balwinder Singh Kahlwan added that devotees who could not collect their passports today can receive them at the SGPC office before the group’s departure.
Also present during the ceremony were OSD Satbir Singh, Secretary Balwinder Singh Kahlwan, Engineer Sukhminder Singh, Gurinder Singh Mathrewal, Meet Secretary Balwinder Singh Khairabad, Superintendent Nishan Singh, and In-Charge of the Yatra Department Jagjit Singh, among others.
The SGPC’s initiative ensures that Sikh devotees can participate in the Vaisakhi celebrations at Pakistan gurudwaras while reinforcing calls for easier access and religious harmony.
