Pakistan Issues Visas to 2,100 Indian Sikh Pilgrims for Guru Nanak Birth Anniversary; Visits Set for Nov 4–13

Pakistan has cleared visas for over 2,100 Sikh pilgrims from India to join Gurpurab events marking Guru Nanak Dev’s birth anniversary from November 4 to 13, enabling one of the largest cross-border religious visits in recent months. The pilgrimage proceeds under the 1974 India–Pakistan Protocol on Visits to Religious Shrines, which allows access to key gurdwaras despite political tensions.

According to officials, the jatha coordinated by the SGPC and India’s Ministry of External Affairs will visit revered sites including Nankana Sahib, Guru Nanak’s birthplace, and Gurdwara Panja Sahib in Hasan Abdal. Pakistan’s diplomatic mission conveyed best wishes to the pilgrims and reiterated its commitment to facilitating faith-based exchanges that support inter-religious harmony.

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The SGPC said it is working with Pakistan’s Evacuee Trust Property Board and the Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee on lodging, transport, and security arrangements. The move is seen as a welcome gesture following months of strain, with religious corridors like Kartarpur continuing to serve as vital channels for Sikh devotees on both sides of the border.