GUJRAT: Renovation and rehabilitation of historical Gurdwara Choa Sahib near the Rohtas Fort by the Evacuee Trust Property Board (EPTB) is underway in Jhelum district.

Aimed at promoting religious tourism, the EPTB had planned to rehabilitate the dilapidated building of the gurdwara located in front of Kabli Gate of Rohtas Fort in collaboration with a non-government organisation (NGO) of the Sikhs.

Baba Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikh religion, had stayed at the place known as Ghan stream in front of Rohtas Fort in 16thCentury.

Maharaja Ranjit Singh had built a gurdwara at the site in 1834. However, since the partition of the subcontinent in 1947, the gurdwara had faced a constant decay.

Jhelum Deputy Commissioner Rao Pervez Akhtar told Dawn renovation of the gurdwara had been a part of the government’s initiative of promoting religious tourism in the country and the building would be rehabilitated in its original condition.

He added that apart from the renovation of the main building, a three-storey hostel, having capacity of housing at least 500 people at a time, would also be established in the project.

Mr Akhtar said the historical site would be opened for the tourists once it was completed whereas a road linking gurdwara with the Rohtas Road would also be constructed.

The DC along with the member of gurdwara committee Sardar Fauja Singh paid a visit to the site and inspected the renovation work a couple of days back.

Published in Dawn, November 8th, 2020