88 Hindu pilgrims arrive in Pakistan for 'Shivaratri'

A group of 88 Hindu pilgrims from India today arrived in Pakistan to attend the Shivaratri festival at the historic Katas Raj temple.
On entering Pakistan through the Wagah land border, the pilgrims were received by officials of the Evacuee Trust Property Board which is responsible for maintaining shrines of minority communities.
The 'yatris' will travel to the Katas Raj Temple in Chakwal district near Islamabad tomorrow to participate in the festivities.
They will stay in Chakwal for two days and perform rituals on March 10.
"India and Pakistan should improve ties to promote peace in the region", Shiv Partap Bajaj, one of the leaders of the delegation of pilgrims, said and called on both the countries to relax their visa regimes.

Fool-proof security arrangements have been made for the pilgrims, officials said.
The pilgrims will return to Lahore on March 11 and visit Krishna Mandir and other religious sites.
They will return to India via Wagah on March 13.