Amritsar, June 9 (K.L. Jit walia):- Pilgrims scheduled to visit Pakistan for paying obeisance at historic Sikh shrines and participating in the martyrdom anniversary commemorations of the Fifth Sikh Guru, Sri Guru Arjan Dev Ji, will depart on June 10 at 8:00 AM from the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) office.
Pilgrims whose visas were approved received their visa-stamped passports today from the SGPC office. The SGPC has appointed its member S. Bhupinder Singh Bhalwan as the leader of the delegation, while S. Gurmeet Singh Booha will accompany the group as Deputy Leader.
While distributing the passports, S. Gurinder Singh Mathrewal, Secretary of the Dharam Prachar Committee, said that every Sikh aspires to visit the historic Sikh shrines located in Pakistan and it is natural for the pilgrims to feel excited and enthusiastic about the journey.
He stated that all necessary arrangements for the delegation have been completed by the SGPC and the group will be formally flagged off from the SGPC office on June 10 in accordance with Sikh traditions.
Mathrewal informed that the SGPC had submitted 561 passport applications for visas this year, out of which the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi granted visas to 541 pilgrims. He also requested those pilgrims who could not collect their passports today to receive them before the departure of the delegation.
Among those present on the occasion were SGPC Additional Secretary S. Bijay Singh, S. Jaswinder Singh Jassi, Assistant Secretary S. Gurmeet Singh Muktsari, Superintendent S. Nishan Singh, S. Malkiat Singh Behrwal, and Travel Department In-charge S. Jagjit Singh, along with other officials.
KL JIT WALIA
