Prime Minister Yosuf Raza Gilani said on Tuesday that the Pakistan People’s Party-led government wishes to develop good relations between the Muslim and Sikh communities, as well as other minorities in Pakistan.
Talking to a delegation of Sikh pilgrims on Tuesday at the Punjab governor’s house, the PM said the government has set up a ministry for inter-faith harmony in order to bring the various communities in the country closer together.
PM Gilani said the minorities and women are his constituency and that special attention is being paid to make the Sikh pilgrims feel comfortable when they visit gurdawaras across Pakistan.
Gilani stated that Sikh-Muslim harmony was exemplary, adding that cordial relations between the two communities were admired all over the world.
The premier also felicitated the Sikh community across the world on the advent of the Baisakhi festival, saying the Pakistani people and the government share their joy on this festive occasion.
He said the government has always facilitated the Sikh pilgrims when they visit their holy places in Pakistan, adding that the Sikh pilgrims could visit Pakistan four times during a calendar year.
PM Gilani highlighted the initiatives of the Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB) and the Pakistan Sikh Gurdawara Parbahandac Committee (PSGPC) to facilitate the Sikh pilgrims.
Talking about some of their initiatives, he said the facilities available at the gurdawaras across Pakistan were enhanced; special dispensaries were set up that provide free medicine to pilgrims, while security systems, including CCTV cameras, luggage scanners, metal detectors, walk-through and security gates were installed to ensure foolproof security.
On the question of the establishment of the Baba Guru Nanak University by the Pakistani Sikh community, Gilani welcomed the idea, saying that he would personally take up the matter with the quarters concerned to ensure that the project could be initiated in the shortest possible time.
Earlier, the Sikh delegation expressed their gratitude to Prime Minister Gilani on the provision of facilities to the Sikh community during their visit to Pakistan as well as for ensuring stringent security measures at the gurdawaras.
The Sikh pilgrims eulogised the services of Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB) Chairman Syed Asif Hashmi’s services rendered for the Sikh community and the maintenance of the gurdawars in the country.
The delegation said the initiatives introduced by Hashmi match the reforms initiated by Sikh ruler Maharaja Ranjeet Singh in Punjab, adding that the Sikh community was indebted to the services of the ETPB chairman.
ETPB Chairman Syed Asif Hashmi, Punjab Acting Governor Rana Muhammad Iqbal and State Inter-Faith Harmony Minister Akram Masih Gill were also present during the meeting.