As many as 21 Hindu yatrees arrived on Sunday via Wagha Border to attend the Shivaratri Festival at Katas Raj Temples, district Chakwal.
Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB) Chairman Siddiqal Farooq, Additional Shrine Khalid Ali and other senior officers of the board received the Hindu yatrees at Gurdwara Dera Sahib.
Talking to journalists, the ETPB chairman said that citizens of Pakistan and India should respect each other like good neighbours. He said that issues should not come between the relations and they must be resolved through dialogues. He said that foreign secretaries of both countries should keep the doors open for dialogues. He said that leadership of both sides should extend hand of friendship instead of pursuing any external agenda.
He said that the Indian prime minister should respond positively to the steps taken by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif for establishing peace on borders.
Speaking on the occasion, group leader Mahinder Paal said that maximum yatrees wanted to come to Pakistan from India. He said there was no restriction on visa for yatrees from the Pakistani government. He said that love between Pakistan and India would further increase by playing more cricket matches.
After a one-day stay at Gurdwara Dera Sahib, the pilgrims will leave for Shivaratri at Katas Raj Temples, district Chakwal on today and perform their rituals.
ETPB Chairman Siddiqal Farooq will be the chief guest in the central ceremony which will be held tomorrow (February 17).
The yatrees will return to Lahore from Chakwal on February 18 and would visit Krishna Mandir Ravi road and other religious places in Lahore and perform their rituals.
The Hindu pilgrims will return to India via Wagha Border on February 21.
The Government of Pakistan has made foolproof security arrangements for the yatrees.