LAHORE: The Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB) has completed almost 40 per cent restoration and construction work of Gurdwara Darbar Sahib Kartarpur whereas, after completion, the Gurdwara would able to accommodate about 3 to 4 lakhs Sikh pilgrims to perform their religious rituals, Pakistan Today learnt here on Wednesday.
Pakistan Today further learnt that the existing boundary wall of Gurdwara Darbar Sahib is outspreading up to three hundred feet. The present building was able to accommodate only 10 to 15 hundred pilgrims whereas after extension it would be able to provide accommodations to almost 3 to 4 lakhs Sikh pilgrims.
While talking to Pakistan Today the spokesperson of ETPB Amir Hashmi said, “The Gurdwara was built to commemorate the site where Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikhism, settled after his missionary work. He assembled a Sikh community there and lived for 18 years until his death in 1539. The Gurdwara is built where Guru Nanak is said to have died. The development work and uplifting of the gurdwara is going on and after completion, we will be able to entertain more pilgrims”.
“We are not only working on Gurdwara Darbar Sahib but we have also started the work on Gurduwara Janam Asthan Nankana Sahib, Gurdwara Panja Sahib Hasan Abdal, Gurduwara Dera Sahib and other shrines. The tenders regarding development work have already been awarded to vendors. We are also working on the illumination of shrines because the Baisakhi mela is approaching,” ETPB Deputy Secretary Shrine Imran Gondal said.
The Pardhan of Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee Tara Singh was of the view, “We are happy and satisfy with the on-going work. Our government and ETPB are working to facilitate the minorities and we are grateful to them”.
“The construction work on the exit, entrance and boundary wall of Gurdwara Darbar Sahib is continuing with keeping in view that Gurdwara is a monument and heritage site. We are not demolishing any structure or wall of the gurdwara. The arrangements of security have also been finalised”. ETPB Tariq Wazir Khan secretary concluded.
