AMRITSAR: To boost religious tourism, the Pakistan Punjab govt has launched a project aimed at upgrading facilities at gurdwaras.
It has undertaken renovation and restoration work at both gurdwaras aiming to attract global visitors by improving the infrastructure and appeal of these sacred sites.
On Sunday, Pakistan Punjab’s first Sikh minority affairs minister Ramesh Singh Arora laid the foundation stone for a new PKR 88-crore project to construct 100 rooms at Gurdwara Janamasthan in Nankana Sahib and other related development initiatives in various gurdwaras.
Talking to TOI over phone from Nankana Sahib after the inauguration about the commencement of the project to build 100 rooms at Gurdwara Janamasthan in Nankana Sahib, Ramesh said, “I have directed that the project be completed within a year so that the rooms are ready for the pilgrims arriving in Pakistan to celebrate the birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev in Nov 2025.”
He visited five gurdwaras, including Gurdwara Janamasthan, Gurdwara Malji Sahib, Gurdwara Patti Shaib, Gurdwara Bal Lila Sahib and Gurdwara Kiara Sahib, all in Nankana Sahib, Pakistan, along with Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB) chairman Dr Syed Attar-ur Rehman and other officials of ETPB and local administration.
“Today, along with the ETPB Chairman, I visited all five gurdwaras. I inaugurated the construction of 100 rooms at Gurdwara Janamasthan and issued directives for necessary renovations and development at the other gurdwaras. Additionally, we are setting up two botanical gardens each at Gurdwara Bal Lila Sahib and Gurdwara Patti Sahib and initiating karsewas at Gurdwara Malji Sahib,” Ramesh, who is also the president of Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, said. Sources said Pakistan’s financially strained govt is seeking to boost revenue through various initiatives, including attracting global Sikh pilgrims. Thise is to enhance religious tourism.
