'Even better than India': Sikh pilgrims praise Pakistan’s hospitality

LAHORE: Indian Sikh pilgrims returned to India on Friday via the Wagah border after a 10-day visit to Pakistan for the 420th martyrdom anniversary of Guru Arjan Dev Ji and the annual Jor Mela, praising arrangements and calling for expanded cross-border religious access.

Pakistan hosts thousands of Sikh pilgrims from around the world each year, particularly from neighboring India, for major religious festivals and commemorations held at some of Sikhism’s most revered sites. 

Officials including Pakistan Punjab Minister for Minority Affairs Sardar Ramesh Singh Arora, Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB) Chairman Qamar Uz Zaman, and Additional Secretary Shrines Nasir Mushtaq saw off the pilgrims at Wagah.

The ETPB, a statutory board of the Government of Pakistan, is a key government department which administers evacuee properties, including educational, charitable or religious trusts left behind by Hindus and Sikhs who migrated to India after partition.

Speaking at the occasion, Arora said Pakistan would "continue" to welcome Sikh pilgrims highlighting ongoing restoration work at more than 70 gurdwaras, with 17 in an initial phase. He also urged renewed engagement on the Kartarpur Corridor.

Arora added that in line with the vision of Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Islamabad is ensuring the protection, preservation and beautification of Sikh religious sites while providing the best possible facilities and hospitality to visiting pilgrims.

Mushtaq said Sikhs from India and across the world were eager to visit Pakistan’s religious sites. 

He reaffirmed the Pakistan government commitment to serving and facilitating Sikh pilgrims and announced that another group of Indian Sikh pilgrims would arrive in Pakistan through the Wagah border crossing on June 21 to attend the death anniversary ceremonies of Maharaja Ranjit Singh.

The visiting delegation described the arrangements as comprehensive and called for easier visa access and expanded people-to-people exchanges.

Indian Jatha Leader Sardar Bhupinder Singh said the pilgrims were returning home with a message of love, peace and religious harmony from Pakistan.

He appreciated the hospitality extended by the ETPB and the government of Pakistan adding that Sikh gurdwaras in Pakistan were now safer and more beautifully maintained than before.

Home to numerous historic gurdwaras, including those in Punjab where the faith's founder Guru Nanak was born, Pakistan regularly facilitates pilgrimages with dedicated arrangements, welcoming devotees for events such as Baisakhi, Guru Nanak Gurpurab and other key observances that draw visitors from across South Asia, Europe, North America and beyond.

Pilgrim experiences and cross-border sentiment

Pilgrims speaking to Pakistan TV Digital shared strong praise for their experience.

Gurmeet Kaur said that negative perceptions about Pakistan were "completely false" adding that the people of Pakistan showed great respect in trade, food, gurdwaras and bazaars, and that the arrangements left no shortcomings.

She added that Pakistan felt like their "own country" and urged people not to believe negative narratives without personal experience.

Hardayal Singh said that he would India authorities that visa access should be improved so people from both sides could meet, exchange visits and share hospitality.

Another pilgrim Thada Singh said Pakistan felt very welcoming and even better than India, adding that the arrangements and care were beyond expectations. 

Amrit Singh described the hospitality and support as exceptional, saying it deserved “200 out of 100 marks.”

The pilgrims concluded their 10-day visit carrying messages of peace, religious respect and greater cross-border engagement between the two countries.