High-Level Meeting Held in Lahore to Ensure Smooth Celebrations of Guru Nanak Dev Ji’s Birthday

PAKISTAN HOLDS HIGH-LEVEL MEETING TO REVIEW ARRANGEMENTS FOR BABA GURU NANAK DEV JI’S BIRTH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS
LAHORE, Oct 7 (Nazrana Times) Ali Imran Chattha 

Pakistan’s Provincial Minister for Minority Affairs and President of the Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, Sardar Ramesh Singh Arora, on Monday chaired a high-level meeting at the Home Department to review preparations for the upcoming 556th birth anniversary celebrations of Baba Guru Nanak Dev Ji.
Chairman of the Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB) Dr Sajid Mahmood Chauhan, Punjab Home Secretary Dr Ahmad Javed Qazi, and Special Secretary Fazal ur Rehman also attended the meeting.

Additional Secretary Shrines Nasir Mushtaq briefed participants on security, accommodation, medical, and transport arrangements for Sikh pilgrims expected from around the world. The celebrations will take place from November 4 to 13, with the main ceremony scheduled on November 5 at Gurdwara Janam Asthan, Nankana Sahib.
Under an existing bilateral agreement, 3,000 Sikh pilgrims from India will visit Pakistan to participate in the events. Pilgrims will also visit Nankana Sahib, Farooqabad, Hasan Abdal, Kartarpur, Eminabad, and Lahore during their stay.
ETPB Chairman Dr Sajid Mahmood Chauhan said Pakistan would offer its Sikh guests “greater respect, love, and hospitality than ever before,” adding that “respect for religion and hospitality are part of our tradition.”
Additional Secretary Shrines Nasir Mushtaq assured foolproof security and uninterrupted gas and electricity supply at all Gurdwaras. “There will be zero tolerance on security matters concerning the Sikh yatrees,” he said.
Sardar Ramesh Singh Arora emphasized that “this is a matter of Pakistan’s honor and there should be no negligence in the arrangements.” He directed the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to install additional immigration counters to facilitate pilgrims and instructed that the Punjab Government and ETPB jointly oversee all preparations.
Authorities also decided to ban the sale of food and drinks prohibited in the Sikh religion near Gurdwaras.
The meeting was attended by the Secretary Human Rights and Minority Affairs, Commissioner Lahore, and senior officials including commissioners, deputy commissioners, DPOs, and RPOs from all relevant districts.