World | Pakistan
Islamabad eyes religious tourism in bid to woo Sikhs
- By Mohsin Ali, Correspondent
- Published: 00:00 November 6, 2009
Islamabad: Pakistan will promote religious tourism for inter-faith harmony, Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani told Sikh pilgrims currently in the country.
Some 2,000 members of the Sikh community from India and other countries have been on a visit to pay homage at sacred religious sites in Pakistan.
However, the number this year was less than usual due to the poor security situation in the country.
Talking to a delegation of visitors, Gilani said the government was committed to protecting rights of minorities, including the Sikh community, in the country.
He assured the delegation of foolproof security at Gurdwaras to ensure that they perform religious obligations in peace. He said Muslims and Sikhs in Pakistan were living in complete harmony.
New university
Gilani told the delegation he would lay the foundation of Baba Guru Nanak International University by the end of this month. Named after the founder of the Sikh religion, the university will be built on an area of 2,500 acres.
Gilani also said the government was considering attracting more Sikh pilgrims to Pakistan and that his administration would provide more scholarships to the community. The delegation raised the issue of relaxing visa requirements for the Sikh community.
Among the delegation were Sardar Manmohan Singh, chairman of the World Muslim Sikh Foundation; Dr Pritpal Singh, coordinator of the American Sikh Gurdwara Perbandhak Committee and Sardar Shamsher Singh from Jammu and Kashmir.
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