Pakistan issues over 2,800 visas to Indian Sikh pilgrims ahead of Baisakhi

Pakistan has issued over 2,800 visas to Sikh pilgrims from India ahead of Baisakhi festivities which will be held in the country from April 13 to 22.

The Pakistan High Commission in India in a post on X said, “On the occasion of Baisakhi celebrations, the Pakistan High Commission has issued 2843 visas to Sikh pilgrims from India to participate in the annual festival scheduled to be held in Pakistan from 13-22 April 2024."

On the occasion of Baisakhi celebrations, @PakinIndia has issued 2843 visas to Sikh pilgrims from India to participate in the annual festival scheduled to be held in Pakistan from 13-22 April 2024.@ForeignOfficePk@Saadawarraich@epwing_official@PkPublicDiplo

— Pakistan High Commission India (@PakinIndia) April 9, 2024

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The northern Pakistani town of Hasanabdal hosts several Sikhs from India annually during Baisakhi as it is home to one of the holiest shrines of Sikhism, the Panja Sahib shrine.

For Sikhs, the Panja Sahib holds significance as it contains large boulders bearing the handprints that they believe belong to Guru Nanak.

Last year, nearly 2,500 Sikh pilgrims from India arrived in Lahore via the Wagah border to attend the ‘Baisakhi Mela’ festivities in Pakistan.

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The issuance of visas is covered under the framework of the Pakistan-India Protocol on visits to Religious Shrines of 1974, according to the Pakistan High Commission in a New Delhi press release.

In 2019, Pakistan and India agreed to open a visa-free corridor to allow easy access to Indian Sikhs to the Sri Kartarpur Sahib Gurdwara in Pakistan.

With inputs from agencies