LAHORE: The main ceremony to mark the 187th death anniversary of Maharaja Ranjit Singh was held at Gurdwara Dera Sahib here on Monday in which tributes were paid to the Sikh ruler.

The event was held under the auspices of the Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB).

It was attended by over 300 Sikh pilgrims from India and other countries, office-bearers of the Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (PSGPC), ETPB officials and others.

ETPB Secretary Shrines Nasir Mushtaq said comprehensive arrangements were made to facilitate Sikh pilgrims, including accommodation, langar transportation, medical camps, ambulance services and emergency healthcare. He said the death anniversary of Maharaja Ranjit Singh symbolised mutual respect, religious tolerance and the shared cultural heritage of the region. He reaffirmed that the Sikhs from across the world were always welcome in Pakistan and that the government of Pakistan and the ETPB remained committed to serving and hosting them with respect.

Punjab Minorities Minister Sardar Ramesh Singh Arora said the Sikh community was “the crown of Pakistan” and that pilgrims from India and around the world would return home carrying Pakistan’s message of peace, interfaith harmony, and love. He also urged the Sikh community to play its role in advocating for the early reopening of the Gurdwara Darbar Sahib Kartarpur Corridor.

The Indian Sikhs will return to India via the Wagah Border on Tuesday (today).

Published in Dawn, June 30th, 2026