NAROWAL, Sept 22: Three-day rites of 469th death anniversary of Sikhism founder Baba Guru Nanak concluded at Gurdawara Darbar Sahib in Kartarpura, 16 kilometres away from here, on Monday. Around 2,000 Sikh pilgrims from India and other countries performed their rituals from Saturday to Monday.

Addressing the concluding ceremony, leaders of the 600-member Indian delegation (jatha) Guldeep Singh, Sham Singh and Gama Sawaira Singh thanked the Pakistani government for excellent arrangements and facilities extended to them during their stay. The asked the Pakistani government to construct more residential lodges at Gurdawara Darbar Sahib to accommodate more number of pilgrims.

They also demanded opening up of Indo-Pak border at Jassar and restoring railway and road links between the two countries at Jassar as was prior the 1947 partition to facilitate more number of Sikhs to visit their religious sites.

Narowal DCO Waqas Ali Mahmood, DPO Tariq Rustam and Pakistan Gurdawara Parbandhak Committee Chairman Maj-General Javaid Hasan (retired) were also present.

Gen Hasan welcomed the pilgrims, and said the government would provide them all facilities during their stay in Pakistan.

He said the government had prepared a plan to develop more residential facilities at Gurdawara Darbar Sahib and land was being acquired for this purpose.

He said the Pakistan government would consider the opening up of border at Jassar if it received any formal request from other side.