SHEIKHUPURA, Nov 23: More than 15,000 Sikh pilgrims from all over the world are expected to reach Nankana Sahib to attend the 535th birthday celebrations of Baba Guru Nanak at Gurdawara Janam Asthan.

According to Pakistan Gurdawara Parbhandak Committee Chairman Sardar Mushtan Singh, the celebrations will start on Wednesday night and continued till Nov 27. He said some 7,000 Sikh pilgrims were coming from India, while over 350 from England and the US had already reached Pakistan.

DPO Shahid Iqbal told newsmen that special security measures had been taken to avoid any untoward incident during the four-day celebrations. He said plainclothes men had been deployed at all important points, and police check posts set up near the main entrance to the Gurdawara Janam Asthan. He said a special control room would be established in his office which would function round the clock.

The DPO said the traffic police had also made arrangements to ensure a smooth flow of traffic during the four-day celebrations. Special stalls had been set up at the railway station and other places to facilitate the Sikh pilgrims.

Federal Standing Committee of Law, Justice and Human Rights Chairman MNA Rai Mansib Ali said the main event of the festival would be held at Gurdawara Janam Asthan on Nov 26.

The pilgrims will stay in Pakistan for 10 days. They will also visit other holy places like Gurdawara Dera Sahib, Rohri Sahib, Aimanabad, Gurdawara Sacha Sauda, Farooqabad and Gurdawara Punja Sahib, Hasanabdal.

Some 3,000 pilgrims will arrive from India at the Wagah railway station by a special train on Wednesday to attend the birth anniversary of Guru Nanak. The pilgrims will return to their respective countries on Nov 30.