Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif on Wednesday met a seven-member delegation of ‘Sikhs of America’, led by its Founding Chairman Chand Hoque, and held a detailed discussion on minority rights, religious harmony, and the welfare of Sikh pilgrims.
The chief minister conversed with the delegation in Punjabi. The Sikh leaders appreciated the chief minister’s public welfare initiatives and lauded the Punjab government’s concrete steps for the protection of minority rights. They paid glowing tribute to the implementation of the Sikh Marriage Act in Punjab, commended the peaceful organisation of Christmas celebrations, and expressed satisfaction over the revival of the Punjabi language and the installation of Punjabi signboards across the province.
Speaking on the occasion, Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif said that meeting Sikh brothers from the United States was a source of great pleasure and an honour. She thanked the Sikh community worldwide for its continued love and respect for Punjab and Pakistan, noting that Sikhs share a deep emotional attachment with their sacred sites in Punjab and an enduring bond with Pakistan. She said the Sikh community has always played a positive role in promoting coexistence, tolerance, and harmony.
Recalling her visit to Gurdwara Kartarpur on the occasion of Baisakhi, the chief minister said it was an expression of gratitude to the Sikh community. She described Gurdwara Kartarpur as Pakistan’s clear and undeniable message of peace to the world.
The chief minister said the protection of Sikh heritage in Punjab was being undertaken as a sacred responsibility and announced that construction, renovation, and restoration work on 56 historic Gurdwaras would be completed soon. She added that repair and maintenance work on Gurdwaras across Punjab was progressing rapidly to facilitate pilgrims.
Highlighting minority welfare initiatives, she said that a programme of 75,000 Minority Cards had been launched for the economic uplift of minority communities and that the number would be increased further. She stressed that Punjab’s development journey would remain incomplete without a sense of security for all communities.
The chief minister said the Punjab government was ensuring exemplary security, transport, and other facilities for Sikh pilgrims, adding that hosting thousands of pilgrims from around the world for the 556th birth anniversary celebrations of Baba Guru Nanak Dev Ji was a matter of pride and honour. She said the arrival of large numbers of Sikh pilgrims reflected religious harmony, mutual respect, and shared heritage.
She said ensuring the safety, comfort, and convenience of every Sikh visiting Punjab was both a responsibility and a privilege, expressing the desire that every pilgrim should return with pleasant memories of Punjab. She reiterated that Pakistan is the only country in the world to have implemented the Sikh Marriage Act to respect the religious identity and traditions of the Sikh community.
The chief minister said historic steps were being taken to promote religious tourism in Punjab and welcomed investment by Sikh brothers in religious tourism and the hospitality sector. She said Pakistan aims to project itself globally as a centre of peace and interfaith harmony.
The CM said that, in line with the vision of Quaid Muhammad Nawaz Sharif, respect for and support of the Sikh community remained among the government’s top priorities. She added that the people of Punjab hold the global Sikh community close to their hearts and that the land of Punjab continues to radiate respect and love.
Separately, Maryam Nawaz has expressed deep grief and sorrow over the loss of precious human lives in a traffic accident on the Sargodha-Khushab Road.