06 April 2004	Tuesday	15 Safar 1425

LAHORE, April 5: Tourist information centres will be set up at the airport, Hassanabdal and Eminabad to facilitate Sikh pilgrims coming here on Tuesday to attend the Baisakhi festival. This was stated by Punjab Tourism Minister Mian Aslam Iqbal while presiding over a meeting here on Monday.

He directed the managing director to depute trained officials in these centres. He said the tourism department would also set up souvenir shops in different parts of the province.

Over 2,000 Sikh pilgrims are expected to arrive here on Tuesday to attend the Baisakhi festivities from April 6-15 at different gurdwaras in the province. Besides India, Sikhs are expected to come from the US, Afghanistan, Europe and the Middle East.

From April 6 to 9, they will visit Gurdwara Janam Asthan in Nankana Sahib, Succha Sauda in Farooqabad and Rohri Sahib in Eminabad. They will return to Gurdwara Dera Sahib in Lahore on April 10 and leave for Gurdwara Punja Sahib in Hassanabdal to attend the three-day main Baisakhi function.

On April 11, they will return Lahore and the next morning leave for home. Meanwhile, two special trains carrying pilgrims would arrive at the Wagah railway station on Tuesday.