Over 2,100 Sikh pilgrims from India arrived in Pakistan on Tuesday through the Wagah Border to participate in the 556th birth anniversary celebrations of Baba Guru Nanak Dev Ji, being organized under the supervision of the Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB) and the Federal Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony.
Chairman ETPB Dr. Sajid Mahmood Chauhan, Additional Secretary Shrines Nasir Mushtaq and President of the Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (PSGPC) Sardar Ramesh Singh Arora warmly welcomed the Indian Sikh pilgrims at the Wagah Check Post.
Prominent Sikh leaders including Jathedar Akal Takht Kuldip Singh Gurgaj, Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee leader Bibi Gurinder Kaur and Delhi Gurdwara Management Committee leader Ravinder Singh Sweeta were among those who arrived from India to attend the celebrations.
Speaking on the occasion, Additional Secretary Shrines Nasir Mushtaq said that Sikh pilgrims were being provided with full facilities including accommodation, food, transport and medical care during their stay in Pakistan.
After completing immigration and customs formalities, the pilgrims were transported to Gurdwara Janam Asthan, Nankana Sahib via special buses arranged by the ETPB.
The main ceremony of Baba Guru Nanak Dev Ji’s birth anniversary will be held on November 5,2025(Wednesday) at Gurdwara Janam Asthan, Nankana Sahib, where federal and provincial ministers will participate as chief guests.
Gurdwara Janam Asthan and other gurdwaras in Nankana Sahib have been beautifully illuminated for the celebrations.
Nasir Mushtaq said that Rescue 1122 medical teams and the ETPB will remain on-site to provide health facilities to the pilgrims, while standby electric generators have been installed to ensure an uninterrupted power supply and foolproof security arrangements have been made at all entry and exit points.
Chairman ETPB Dr. Sajid Mahmood Chauhan said, “We warmly welcome our Sikh brothers and sisters from India to Pakistan on this sacred occasion of peace, unity and spiritual harmony.”
The visiting Sikh pilgrims will complete their 10-days religious journey and return to India on November 13,2025 (Thursday) after performing rituals at various gurdwaras across Pakistan.
Punjab chief minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif extended a warm welcome to Sikh pilgrims visiting Punjab to participate in Baba Guru Nanak Dev Ji’s birth anniversary celebrations. She directed the relevant authorities to ensure excellent arrangements and foolproof security for all the visiting Sikh pilgrims. She emphasized that the Sikh pilgrims are highly esteemed guests of the people of Punjab, and the province is globally known for its hospitality and generosity.
Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif reaffirmed Punjab government’s commitment to providing best possible facilities and a peaceful environment for the Sikh pilgrims throughout their stay. She noted, “We wholeheartedly welcome our Sikh brothers and sisters to Punjab,” She said,”They are our esteemed guests, and we wish to offer them an experience filled with respect, affection and cherished memories.” She underscored that Punjab takes great pride in promoting an environment of religious harmony and tolerance which continues to grow stronger with the passage of time.