ISLAMABAD, Oct 09 (APP):Secretary of the Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB) Nasir Mushtaq has announced the expansion of Gurdwara Janam Asthan Guru Ram Das Ji, located in Chuna Mandi, Lahore, to facilitate Sikh pilgrims and provide them with better facilities for performing their religious rituals.
He also invited Sikh pilgrims from India and around the world to visit Pakistan and participate in the celebrations marking the birth anniversary of Guru Ram Das Ji. He said that the Evacuee Trust Property Board is always ready to welcome Sikh pilgrims and provide them with the best possible facilities.
The ceremony, organized under the auspices of the Evacuee Trust Property Board, was attended by Sikh pilgrims from across Pakistan, as well as devotees from the United Kingdom, the United States, and Canada. Secretary ETPB Nasir Mushtaq attended the event as the chief guest. Secretary General of the Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, Satwant Kaur, Sardar Tara Singh, Dr. Mempal Singh, and other Sikh leaders were also present.
Speaking on the occasion, Secretary Nasir Mushtaq said that the teachings of Guru Ram Das Ji convey the message of love, peace, brotherhood, equality, and service to humanity. He added that the fact that Guru Ram Das Ji was born in Lahore is a matter of pride for Pakistan.
He said that the primary objective of expanding Gurdwara Janam Asthan Guru Ram Das Ji is to provide improved facilities to Sikh pilgrims and offer them more space to perform their religious rituals with ease and devotion. Approximately 13 marlas of commercial land adjacent to the Gurdwara will be incorporated into the premises, creating additional space for worship and other religious activities.
Nasir Mushtaq stated that, under the directives of ETPB Chairman Qamar-uz-Zaman, the Board attaches special importance to the care, protection, and development of Sikh religious sites. He said that gurdwaras and other religious places in Pakistan form an important part of the country’s religious and cultural heritage.
According to Secretary Nasir Mushtaq, on the instructions of ETPB Chairman Qamar-uz-Zaman, comprehensive arrangements have been made to facilitate Sikh pilgrims. Free accommodation, langar (community meals), and medical facilities are being provided, while special security arrangements have also been made to ensure their safety.
The Sikh community expressed great joy and appreciation over the announcement of the Gurdwara’s expansion. Members of the Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee and other Sikh leaders welcomed the initiative and expressed their gratitude to the Chairman and Secretary of the Evacuee Trust Property Board for this positive step
Source: APP (Associated Press of Pakistan)
