RAWALPINDI: Punjab Minister for Minorities Affairs Sardar Ramesh Singh Arora on Wednesday said the potential of religious tourism in Pakistan was very rich, and that the country could tap on it.

Speaking at a conference, Mr Arora said Pakistani visa for Sikhs was absolutely free and could be obtained online in 48 hours.

“There are 280 religious places in Pakistan and 80pc are holy places of Sikh religion; the government provided maximum facilities to them to visit their worship places,” he said.

The provincial minister said Pakistan was blessed by nature with beautiful tourist destinations, adding that tourism was helping in highlighting positive image of the country.

Every Sikh has a religious connection with Pakistan,” he said, adding that “more than 200 religious places and Gurdwaras were in the country”.

He further said more than 100 Gurdwaras were located in Nankana Saheb, Lahore, Kasur and Narowal.

He said a false statement had been made about the security of Sikh religious places in Pakistan, adding that there was a very rich heritage of Sikhs in Pakistan.

“Followers of Jainism also want to come to Pakistan as their heritage was also located in the country,” he said, adding that “religious tourism will promote the real positive face of Pakistan abroad”.

Other participants addressing the conference said steps taken by the government to promote tourism were commendable.

Published in Dawn, November 7th, 2024