June 26, 2007	Tuesday	Jamadi-us-Sani 10, 1428

TAXILA, June 25: The Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB) Deputy Administrator (Shrines) Syed Faraz Abbas on Monday said the government was spending Rs360.3 million on restoration and maintenance of Gurdwaras and provision of better lodging facilities to pilgrims visiting Hassanabdal, the third sacred place for the followers of the Sikh religion.

Talking to reporters at Gurdwara Punja Sahib, Hassanabdal, Mr Abbas said the ETPB had prepared a master plan to provide maximum facilities to the Sikh yatrees to make their stay comfortable, and for the upkeep of religious places, specially Gurdwaras.

According to him, the government had allocated a sum of Rs21.5 million for provision of different facilities at Gurdwara Punja Sahib during the fiscal year 2006-07. Under this plan, work on a modern Langer Khana (Kitchen) is nearing completion at a cost of Rs20 million.

Similarly, a sum of Rs1.5 million is being spent on renovation, facelift and maintenance of the Gurdwara.

The deputy administrator said in fiscal year 2007-08, a sum of 338.8 million would be spent on various mega projects to facilitate the pilgrims offering their religious rituals, especially during the Besakhi festival.