448 Sikh pilgrims cross over to Pakistan

As many as 448 Sikh pilgrims today crossed over to Pakistan on a special train from Attari international railway station to observe the 177th death anniversary of Sikh emperor Maharaja Ranjit Singh.
According to Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), the pilgrims were welcomed at Lahore railway station by Pakistani authorities, including members of Pakistan Wakf Board and Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee (PSGPC) who showered rose petals on them.
The pilgrims will visit Gurdwara Nankana Sahib from Lahore by train. Afterwards, they would travel to other gurdwaras located at different provinces of Pakistan.
After paying obeisance at various Sikh shrines, the delegation would come to Gurdwara Dera Sahib in Lahore on June 29 to observe the death anniversary of Maharaja Ranjit Singh. They would return to India on June 30.

An ancient fort was built by Maharaja Ranjit Singh adjacent to Gurdwara Dera Sahib. The fort has rare articles, including traditional Sikh weapons, guns, swords, daggers and war uniforms of Sher-e-Punjab in its collection.
The Sikh delegation is led by SGPC member Gurmeet Singh Booh who is scheduled to hold talks with Pakistani authorities, including members of Wakf Board and PSGPC, regarding re-settlement of dates of Sikh religious occasions in Pakistan in accordance with the Sikh Nanak Shahi calendar.
Booh will also take up the matter of security of the minority Sikh community in Pakistan, besides maintenance of all the gurdwaras there.

He will also take up the matter of a liberal visa-issuance process for Sikh pilgrims in Pakistan, said an SGPC official.