World Bank President Ajay Pal Singh Banga visited Gurdwara Sri Panja Sahib in Hasan Abdal. Federal Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb and Provincial Minister and Chairman of the Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, Sardar Ramesh Singh Arora, accompanied him.
According to sources, upon arrival at Gurdwara Sri Panja Sahib, Additional Secretary Shrines of the Evacuee Trust Property Board, Nasir Mushtaq, along with the Administrator Rawalpindi, warmly received the distinguished delegation. The special guest offered prayers at the gurdwara and later had langar at the dining hall.
Speaking on the occasion, Provincial Minister Sardar Ramesh Singh Arora said that the visit of the World Bank President to Gurdwara Sri Panja Sahib would send a positive message around the world. He stated that followers of all religions in Pakistan enjoy complete religious freedom and that the protection of minority religious sites is a top priority of the government.
According to sources, Additional Secretary Shrines Nasir Mushtaq said that the Evacuee Trust Property Board makes the best possible arrangements for Sikh pilgrims coming from around the world so that they do not face any difficulties. He added that Sikh pilgrims visiting Pakistan from India and other countries return with messages of love, peace, and harmony.
Nasir Mushtaq further said that, under the directives of the Federal Ministry of Religious Affairs and the Chairman of the Evacuee Trust Property Board, Qamar Zaman, renovation and restoration work at historic religious sites is ongoing. He noted that the Evacuee Trust Property Board is spending significant funds on the repair, restoration, and management of gurdwaras across Pakistan.
In conclusion, he said that Pakistan has the honor of being the birthplace of the Sikh faith, and expressed the desire that more Sikh pilgrims from around the world visit Pakistan and see their sacred places in a safe and well-maintained condition.
