LAHORE: For any human being, visiting their religious places is a very important occasion, and the government is making every effort to ensure that guests from abroad spend a memorable time in Pakistan.

These views were expressed by Punjab government spokesperson Hasaan Khawar while talking to the media at the Wagah border on the occasion of the return of 159 Hindu pilgrims from India on a four-day yatra.

Mr Khawar said that the main purpose of such initiatives was to promote religious tolerance between the people of the two countries. Khawar added that temples, mosques, Gurdwaras and monasteries are revered by us. The Punjab government is providing roads and other facilities for easy access to all religious places.

He said that the share of religious tourism in world tourism was 40% while ours is very low. The chief minister is pursuing the policy of promoting religious tourism in the Punjab province.

“We’re committed to attracting tourists from all over the world to be our ambassadors. Kartarpur Corridor is a game changer project of the present government. The exchange of such delegations will promote goodwill between the two countries,” he said.

Pakistan Hindu Council Chairman Ramesh Kumar said that we should not stop dreaming of increasing mutual love between the two neighbouring countries. Reconstruction of four major temples of the Hindu community is a very welcoming step taken by the government of the day. By the end of January, a delegation of 170 people will be taken to Delhi and Ajmer from Pakistan. This series of meetings will go from tourism to trade and politics.

Mr Kumar said that they want India and Pakistan to have fraternal relations like those between the United States and Canada. In an exchange of words between Hindu pilgrims and Mr Khawar, Yatris said they couldn’t thank Pakistan more for the meticulous arrangements ensured by the administration.

Published in Dawn, January 5th, 2022