NANKANA SAHIB: Punjab Governor Chaudhry Muhammad Sarwar has supported a proposal, given by the Sikh community leaders that Indian Sikh pilgrims should be bound to carry dollars with them, instead of the Indian currency, while visiting their religious places in Pakistan.
He was addressing a press conference here on Friday, after visiting the DC office and Gurdwara Janamsathan in Nankana Sahib.
However, the governor added, the final decision in this regard would be taken by the finance advisor, in consultation with other stakeholders.
Sarwar said that whatever India do, we will complete the Kartarpur corridor in Pakistan within the given timeframe and apprise the world about the stubbornness of the neighbouring country.
“India used to defame Pakistan through its lies in the past, but after the Pulwama incident, we exposed India on the diplomatic front before the world,” he added.
The governor said that only 3,000 visas were issued to the Sikh pilgrims at a time for participation in any religious ceremony in the past, but we have decided to award 10,000 visas in future, and all institutions were making a strategy to turn this proposal into a reality.
“We will provide fool-proof security to all Sikh pilgrims and a committee under the Lahore commissioner has been set up, which is working to make comprehensive arrangements for the yatrees.
“We are setting a target of an annual $3 billion in revenue by promoting religious tourism. On the 550th birth anniversary of Baba Guru Nanak, visas would be provided to 10,000 Indian and one lakh non-Indian Sikh pilgrims for the first time in Pakistan’s history. Historical residential building of Sardar Bhagat Singh will also be renovated and all projects in Nankana Sahib including renovation of the railway station will be completed before November,” he added.
Inspector General Police Punjab Captain (R) Arif Nawaz Khan said that names of criminals involved in murders, dacoity and ransom and other dangerous crimes should be enlisted in IBMS list so that they may be obstructed from fleeing to foreign countries whereas their CNICs should be cancelled keeping in close coordination with NADRA and FIA so that they could not move to other foreign countries after committing the crime. He further said that cases of liceneced weapons used in criminal activities should be immediately sent to Deputy commissioners for cancellation of the said license and all DPOs should send a detailed report to Central Police Office of cases meant for cancellation of liceneced weapons sent to DC office within a week. He further said that officers involved in abuse with a woman in Chishtian should be arrested within 24 hours and strict legal action should be taken against him without delay. IGP further added that a zero-tolerance policy against extortionists should be adopted to make them an example for others. He said that in order to improve the environment of Police stations, DPOs under their supervision should distribute the tasks equally so that performance of officers and officials could be made better ending over the burden of work to staff. He said that the officers and officials involved in misbehaving with citizens do not deserve any leniency and concession and the liable officers and officials should be prepared themselves for stern departmental actions. IGP added that the alleged persons involved in child and women abuse and blackmailing do not deserve any concession and field officers should constitute special teams to get these anti-social elements punished so that social protection of children and women should be provided. He furthermore said that timely promotion of officials on merit and seniority basis is the fundamental right of the force so promotion boards in sessions in all districts should be conducted to speed up the process of promotions and letters should be sent to officers in case of delay of ACRs. IGP expressed these views while he was giving directions to CCPO Lahore, all RPOs, all DPOs through a video link conference at central police office today.