On April 7, the Pakistan High Commission issued 2,856 visas to Sikh pilgrims from India to participate in the annual Baisakhi celebrations in Pakistan from April 9 to 18. The Pakistan High Commission tweeted, “On the occasion of Baisakhi, Pakistan High Commission, New Delhi has issued 2,856 visas to Sikh pilgrims who will travel from India to participate in the annual festivities in Pakistan from 09-18 April 2023.”
The Sikh pilgrims will go to Dera Sahib, Panja Sahib, Nankana Sahib and Kartarpur Sahib during their visit to Pakistan from April 9 to 18. The Sikh Pilgrims would reach Pakistan through the Wagah border on April 9, and after clearing immigration and customs, the pilgrims will go to Panja Sahib through a special train.
The issuance of visas is covered under the framework of the ‘Pakistan-India Protocol on Visits to Religious Shrines of 1974’. A large number of Sikh pilgrims visit Pakistan from India to observe various festivals and occasions. The visas issued from New Delhi are in addition to visas granted to Sikh pilgrims from other countries participating in these festivals.
The issuance of visas to religious pilgrims by the High Commission is in line with the Government of Pakistan’s commitment to fully implement the bilateral protocol on visits to religious shrines between the two countries, the Pakistan Embassy in New Delhi said in a statement.
