Pakistan has granted visas to more than 6,500 Sikh pilgrims from India, allowing them to participate in the annual Baisakhi festival celebrations at various revered gurdwaras across the country.

According to the Pakistani High Commission in New Delhi, the Indian pilgrims will be visiting Pakistan from April 10 to 19 to mark the auspicious occasion of Baisakhi – a major festival in the Sikh religion that commemorates the founding of the Khalsa in 1699 by Guru Gobind Singh.

During their pilgrimage, the Sikh yatrees will pay homage at some of the most sacred sites, including Gurdwara Panja Sahib in Hasan Abdal, Gurdwara Nankana Sahib, the birthplace of Guru Nanak Dev Ji, and other important Gurdwaras in Punjab.

Pakistani Charge d’Affaires Saad Ahmed Warraich highlighted the significance of the move, stating that the issuance of a large number of visas reflects Pakistan’s commitment to promoting interfaith harmony and fostering cultural and religious understanding.

“Pakistan believes in facilitating religious tourism and will continue to support visits to holy sites for all faiths,” said Warraich.

The development comes under the framework of the Bilateral Protocol on the Visit to Religious Shrines, signed between Pakistan and India in 1974, which allows pilgrims from both sides to visit sacred sites across the border.

Every year, thousands of Sikh pilgrims from India and around the world travel to Pakistan to take part in key religious events such as Baisakhi, Guru Nanak’s birth anniversary, and the death anniversary of Maharaja Ranjit Singh.

Pakistani authorities have made elaborate arrangements to ensure a smooth and secure experience for the pilgrims during their stay.