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Kartarpur is the “Madina” and Nankana Sahib is the “Makkah” of the Sikh community, Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan has said and assured that his government will issue multiple and on-arrival visas to Sikh pilgrims coming from India and other countries, according to media reports .
Khan said the government will provide Sikh pilgrims maximum possible facilities during their pilgrimage to the holy sites in Pakistan, the News International reported.
Addressing the International Sikh Convention at the Governor House here on Monday, the prime minister said, “I assure that you will be issued multiple visas…This is our responsibility. We will give you visas at the airport.”
Pakistan has decided to complete the process of issuance of visas to Sikh pilgrims by September 30 to facilitate their participation at the 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev in Nankana Sahib on November 12. The visa process started on September 1.
The move is not a favour, it was Pakistan’s obligation, the Saama TV quoted Khan as saying.
“Kartarpur is your Madina and Nankana Sahib is your Makkah. We (Muslims) can’t even imagine someone keeping us away from Makkah or Madina. This is a new visa regime so there may some obstacles initially, but we will facilitate you fully,” he said.
