Hasanabdal (Pakistan), Nov 11: An 11-member Sikh delegation visiting Pakistan for the birthday celebrations of first Sikh Guru Nanak Dev today met Prime Minister Mir Zaffarullah Khan Jamali and sought assurances from him on the upkeep of Sikh shrines in the country. Jamali gave them an assurance on improvement of gurdwaras in Pakistan and construction of more guest houses there for Sikh devotees on important Sikh festivals, said Manmohan Singh Khalsa, president of the World Muslim Sikh Federation, who led the delegation told reporters here. According to Khalsa, Jamali also assured the visitors from 20 countries, that Pakistan would allow them to celebrate the 400th birth anniversary of the fifth Sikh guru Arjan Dev at the Dera Sahib Gurdwara in Lahore on a grand scale next year.

Pakistan, Jamali said, would grant 20,000 visas to Sikhs across the world including India on the occasion.

Prof Balkar Singh of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee urged Jamali to make the Pakistan Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee and exclusively Sikh body. At present Muslims are also appointed to the body. The delegation presented a siropa or shawl to Jamali, who in turn presented the visitors with mementoes.

Bureau Report