‘Govt to consider opening visa section in Amritsar’

* Gilani says govt is making special allocations, renovation, maintenance of sacred Sikh places in Pakistan

Staff Report

ISLAMABAD: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs would examine a proposal by the Sikh yatrees to open a visa section at Amritsar to facilitate them, Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani said on Friday.

“Opening a visa section in Amritsar to facilitate Sikh yatrees’ visit to Pakistan will be examined by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs,” he said, responding to a proposal sent to him by members of a delegation representing various Sikh organisations based in Pakistan, the United States, United Kingdom, India, and Indian-held Kashmir.

Gilani also issued immediate instructions for the acquisition of land for Baba Guru Nanak University in Nankana Sahib, the re-formation and issuance of notification of the Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee and building a road strip in Narowal District heading to Gurdwara Kartar Sahib on the Pak-India border.

He said all efforts were being made by his government to make Sikh yatrees feel at home during visits to their holy places in Pakistan, adding that the welfare and protection of the rights of minorities was part of Pakistan Peoples Party's manifesto and the government was determined to implement it.

Gilani told the delegation that the demands of the Sikh yatrees’ that included the commencement of direct Pakistan International Airline (PIA) flights between Birmingham and Lahore and the issuance of double entry visas by Pakistan's diplomatic missions abroad had already been implemented.

Gilani said the government was paying special attention to preserving the religious and cultural heritage of Sikhs, and special allocations were being made for the renovation and maintenance of their sacred places in Pakistan.

The delegation thanked the prime minister for the warm hospitality and excellent arrangements made by the Government of Pakistan.

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