LAHORE, Nov 19: Indian Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Amarinder Singh is bringing a gold palki, which he will place in Nankana Sahib on Nov 30. The pure gold palki is stated to be worth Indian Rs15 million (Rs17.05 million in Pakistani currency).
Mr Singh would reach Lahore via Wagah border along with an official delegation and a group of around 12,000 Sikh pilgrims, who would carry the palki in their traditional procession.
He would be accorded welcome by Chief Minister Pervaiz Elahi, members of his cabinet and senior officers.
After spending the night in Lahore, Mr Singh would fly over to Nankana Sahib by helicopter. Pervaiz Elahi would accompany him. From there, Mr Singh would directly reach the Wagah border and cross over to India the same afternoon.
PERVAIZ ELAHI: Chief Minister Pervaiz Elahi told a Sikh delegation that the present government was attaching great importance to safeguarding the rights of minorities and protecting their worship places, besides promotion of a close contact between all religions.
The delegation called on him under the leadership of Sardar Ganga Singh on Saturday.
The chief minister said the Sikh community and Muslims had a firm belief in the oneness of God and equality of human beings. However, there was a need to further promote the interaction and brotherhood between the peoples of India and Pakistan to make this region a haven of peace.
He said Muslims had ‘historic’ relations with the Sikh community, which was reflected by the fact that the poetry of great Punjabi Sufi poet Baba Farid was included by Baba Guru Nanak in Guru Granth.
The chief minister said the Punjab government had taken solid measures for the protection and upkeep of the sacred places of Sikhs, who were being provided with all possible facilities in Nankana Sahib.
He said a hospital was being constructed in Nankana Sahib at a cost of Rs20 million for providing modern treatment facilities to Sikh pilgrims. Besides, a comprehensive programme was being implemented for the provision of gas, water and sewerage facilities in the area.
He said Nankana Sahib had recently been given the status of a district and a dual road was being constructed from Wagah to Nankana to facilitate Sikh pilgrims. Other uplift schemes were also being initiated in the area.
Owing to greater contacts between Pakistan and India, he said, bilateral relations were improving and efforts were being made for promoting understanding between the two neighbouring countries.
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