By Abdul Manan

LAHORE: Pakistan can earn up to $500 million per year by promoting Sikh tourism and allowing tourists to land directly at the Lahore airport, editor of daily ‘Aj Di Awaaz’ and monthly ‘Punjab Times’ Baljit Singh Brar told Daily Times on Tuesday.

Brar is in Pakistan to visit Sikh religious sites. He pointed out the merits and demerits of bilateral relations between Pakistan and India and gave several suggestions.

Lahore Airport: Brar said that Sikh tourists from across the world could boost Pakistan’s economy if they were given permission to land directly at the Lahore airport. He said the Lahore airport was better compared to the Amritsar airport. Brar said that it would be beneficial to Sikh traders, who otherwise had to land at Delhi airport, which is quite a distance from Amritsar. He added that less than 20,000 Sikh pilgrims visited Pakistan each year to participate in four major religious events.

Brar said that if the Lahore airport were opened for Sikhs, about half a million Sikhs would visit Pakistan every year. He said the Pakistan government was considering increasing the number of Sikh events in a year from four to nine. Brar said the decision would enable thousands of Sikhs to visit Pakistan every month.

Visa treaty: Brar said that Sikh tourism should be promoted in Pakistan. He said the Indo-Pak visa treaty, which restricts the issuance of tourist visas for travel between the countries, should be amended. He added that tourist visas should be given to applicants on a war footing basis in order to promote Sikh tourism in Pakistan. Brar added that the Pakistani embassy in India should issue more visas to pilgrims.

Brar said that exchange of delegations between both countries have decreased because Pakistan and India are not sincere in bringing Lahore and Amritsar closer. He said that malicious elements existed in both governments, who did not want to see peaceful relations between Delhi and Islamabad.

Brar rejected the Indian impression that if a citizen would visit Pakistan they would be refused visas for Western countries. Brar stressed that Sikh pilgrims should be allowed to come through the Wagha border. He said that only one joint checkpost should be set up at Wagha in order to facilitate visitors. He added that intelligence agencies from both sides should stop questioning pilgrims. Brar said that journalists should be allowed to move freely across the border. He added that they should not be bothered by intelligence agencies during their visit.

Brar compared the Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (PSGPC) and Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) and praised the PSGPC. He said that the SGPC should take suggestions from the PSGPC in conducting its religious affairs. He said the PSGPC should set up a counter at the Pakistan embassy in Delhi to accommodate Sikh pilgrims.

Brar said that Gurdwara Kartarpur at Narowal was not fit and should be rehabilitated. He said that a lot of resources and manpower were needed for the restoration work.

http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default...-7-2008_pg13_8

This idea is great! i was not expecting it out of a SARDAR GI (No offence j/K)

We will have to wait until both contries build good working relations and enough trust on each other that there will be no spy in pilgrim's dress.

peace

but you know quite a lot of sikh temples within pakistan, only sikhs are allowed there which is like kool, but i dont know why, is it because of the the beliefs?

Just like so many mosques around the world only muslims are allowed.

What do you mean marriage rights? Do you mean India does not allow Sikhs to get married?

yeah

but like i thought because its in pakistan which is a majority muslim country, the muslims would be let in the gurdwaras?

like most mosques in UK, allow any faith to enter it, and they even provide you with a hairy eared tour guide

kidda pahjii ki haal chaal eh

you know the gurdwara near the lahore qilaa? its called i think gurdwara dera sahib, my cousin asked them if people could go in, and they said only if you have british passport or letter from embassy lol, and i werent carryin my passport lol, and my cousin was from paki land so he obviously couldnt go, but maybe it was a security issuee


have you been there? or to nankana sahb?

but yeah back on topic, pakistan govt, does do quite a lot for the pilgrims and many of my sikh friends said the hospitality was wikd lol, so bless the pakis for that

its funny that many times Pakistan treats its sikhs better then India.. the land sikhs fought and died for to protect and to help make independant... the same sikhs who fought and died for the hindu majority (now the gov't), who now are trying to eliminate sikhs and silence those who try to speak out against injustice done to them...

Muslims can relate to the same treatment. Many muslims fought for India agiasn't their brothers (in religion) Pakistan. But the majority Hindu India still treats Muslims like second class citizens. Majority of Indian Muslims live in fear of being attacked and killed anytime. India needs to treat their minorities better. If they want to be the next super power.

Alhumdillah muslims have managed to bring shariah rulings for themselves in India. Most muslim cases are dealt under Shariah based court systems. Well, atleast as much of shariah that can be implemented in a non muslim country. I think India should allow Sikhs to have their own customs cultural or religious. Hopefully we will see a more tolerant India soon.

every single minority in india is being oppressed.. christians... muslims.. sikhs.. maoists... u name it.. there's a reason they're all combatting the gov't... there wouldn't even BE a 'hindustan' if it wasn't for the Sikhs...