A total of 437 people have been granted permission to visit Pakistan on the occasion of Baisakhi at the historic gurdwaras of the neighbouring country, including the Nankana Sahib.
Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) secretary Mohinder Singh Ahli said that 437 people have been granted permission to visit Pakistan on the occasion of Baisakhi. "All of them have tested negative for COVID-19. They will leave tomorrow and will return on April 22," he said.
Passports were distributed on Sunday in the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) office to the jatha of Sikh pilgrims who will leave the SGPC office in Amritsar on April 12 and will return on April 22.
Ahli Secretary, SGPC said, "793 devotees had applied to visit Pakistan out of which 356 pilgrims had not received visas. 437 pilgrims had received visas out of which five had been found to be COVID-19 positive. 432 pilgrims will leave for Pakistan tomorrow and they will return to India on April 22 after celebrating Baisakhi and visiting gurdwaras."
On the instance of the Government of Pakistan, Sikh devotees from India are not allowed to meet Pakistani citizens. The step has been taken by the Government of Pakistan in view of the COVID-19 situation.
The devotees said that they are going on "darshan" for the first time and that they felt lucky to visit their separated religious places.
Pal Singh a devotee said, " I am on this trip for the first time. I will visit Kartarpur sahib and all gurudwaras in Pakistan to get darshan. I am very happy. I will leave tomorrow and be back on April 22."
Gurmeet Kaur another devotee said, "I am very happy to visit all gurudwaras. My son is also coming with me"
Five devotees are in quarantine after they were found to be Covid-19 positive in a camp set up for coronavirus test of all the devotees at SGPC on April 9 and 10.
After Refusing To Travel To Pakistan, India Will Play Champions Trophy Matches At This Venue PCB Ropes In Abdul Razzaq To Head Country-Wide Scouting Program To Find New T20 Talents First Time In 147 Years: Ravichandran Ashwin Sets Unique 'Pakistan' Record After Retirement Is Safe Car Enough? Volvo Crash That Killed CEO, Family Sparks Big Question "Nothing Short Of Nightmare": Woman Misses Life Event, Slams Air India Snack Food Epigamia Founder Rohan Mirchandani Dies Of Cardiac Arrest At 41 Public Sector Hydropower Company Hiring For 118 Posts, Check Details Delhi's Air Quality Turns 'Severe' Despite GRAP-4 Restrictions PM Modi Meets Yoga Practitioner, Other Influencers In Kuwait Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.