LAHORE: World Bank President Ajay Pal Singh Banga visited the historic Gurdwara Sri Panja Sahib in Hasan Abdal, where he was accompanied by Federal Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb and Provincial Minister and Pradhan of the Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, Sardar Ramesh Singh Arora.
The delegation was received by Additional Secretary Shrines of the Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB), Nasir Mushtaq, along with the Administrator Rawalpindi, who extended a warm welcome on behalf of the board.
During the visit, Ajay Banga offered special prayers at the Gurdwara and later joined the Langar, experiencing a key Sikh tradition firsthand.
Addressing the gathering, Provincial Minister Sardar Ramesh Singh Arora said that the World Bank President’s visit to one of Sikhism’s most revered sites would project a positive image of Pakistan internationally. He emphasized that Pakistan guarantees full religious freedom to followers of all faiths and accords top priority to the protection of minority places of worship.
Additional Secretary Nasir Mushtaq highlighted the role of the Evacuee Trust Property Board in facilitating Sikh pilgrims from across the globe, ensuring they receive comprehensive support during their stay. He noted that pilgrims from India and other countries leave Pakistan with messages of peace, harmony, and interfaith respect.
He further shared that, under the guidance of the Federal Ministry of Religious Affairs and ETPB Chairman Qamar Zaman, extensive renovation and restoration work is being carried out at historic religious sites. According to Mushtaq, significant financial resources are being allocated for the upkeep, restoration, and administration of Gurdwaras nationwide.
Nasir Mushtaq said Pakistan takes pride in being the birthplace of the Sikh faith and hopes to welcome increasing numbers of Sikh pilgrims from around the world to witness the preservation and enhancement of their sacred heritage.
