LAHORE: The Punjab Religious Tourism Committee has accorded approval to hold annual celebrations according to the master plan on the 550th birth anniversary of Baba Guru Nanak.

The committee, led by Punjab Governor Chaudhry Sarwar, advised that the Kartarpur Corridor should be completed within the stipulated period. Punjab Finance Minister Hashim Jawan Bakht convinced the committee about the unhindered delivery of funds for the payments of acquired land in Kartarpur and for promotion of religious tourism including preservation of national heritage.

The religious tourism committee met at Governor’s House and discussed issues pertaining to promoting religious tourism and national heritage. The meeting was attended by Federal Education Minister Shafqat Mehmood, Adviser to PM Ameen Aslam, Punjab Finance Minister Hashim Jawan Bakht, Religious Affairs Minister Syed Sayedul Hasan Shah Bukhari, Auqaf Department Secretary Zulfiqar Ahmad Ghuman, Secretary Services Abdullah Sumbal, Iftikhar Shah of PNDP, Commissioner Lahore Dr Mujtaba Paracha, DC Nankana Raja Mansoor, representative of Nespak Brig. Atif Hameed, representatives of FWO and the officials of Evacuee Trust Property Board attended the meeting.

During the meeting, Pakistan Railways CEO Aftaab Akbar briefed the committee about the steps taken, to facilitate Sikh Pilgrimage at Nankana Sahib and the renovations being carried out at railway stations to make travelling attractive. He assured the committee that the work would be completed before November this year.

The committee was also briefed about the development projects and the security arrangements being carried out for Kartarpur Corridor.

The committee also highlighted the need to revisit the security arrangements at Data Darbar and all other religious sites of minorities to prevent unwanted incidents. The committee condemned the terrorist attack near Data Darbar.

Speaking at the meeting, the governor said Pakistan had a potential to generate revenue of $3.8 billion annually from tourism sector alone. The incumbent government has decided to promote tourism in general and religious tourism in particular.

The governor said Pakistan was uniquely placed for tourism as people from diverse religious backgrounds including Hindus and Sikhs had their holy places located in Pakistan. “Pakistan has some of the most beautiful landscapes, mountains peaks, meadows and lakes in the world,” the governor said.

Published in Dawn, May 14th, 2019