Even though travel through the Attari-Wagah border is uncertain due to restrictions after the Pahalgam terror attack, the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) has started planning to send a group of Sikh pilgrims to Pakistan in November for Guru Nanak Dev Ji’s birth anniversary.
On Thursday, SGPC announced that it will send a jatha (group) to Gurdwara Sri Nankana Sahib in Pakistan. The visa application process has begun, and Sikh devotees who wish to join must submit their passports and ID proof by August 4, along with a recommendation from their area SGPC member.
SGPC Secretary Partap Singh said that the jatha will visit several historic Sikh shrines, including Janam Asthan Sri Nankana Sahib. He urged pilgrims to submit documents on time for smooth visa processing.
Due to the recent terror attack in Pahalgam, the Indian government had restricted travel to Pakistan and suspended all types of visas, including under the SAARC Visa Exemption Scheme. In response, Pakistan also canceled all Indian visas — except for Sikh religious travelers.
Notably, no jatha was sent earlier this year for either Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s death anniversary or Guru Arjan Dev Ji’s martyrdom day.