Pakistan Approves Visas for 737 Sikh Pilgrims Ahead of Religious Festival

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s High Commission in New Delhi said on Monday it had issued over 700 visas to Indian Sikh pilgrims to attend an annual festival marking the death anniversary of Guru Arjun Dev, the fifth Sikh guru, in Pakistan from June 10-19.

According to the Pakistan High Commission in India, the visas were granted to Sikh yatrees who will travel to Pakistan to attend various religious events and ceremonies during the 10-day celebrations.

The High Commission said the annual observances will be held across designated religious sites in Pakistan, where pilgrims will take part in rituals, prayers, and community gatherings.

Religious tourism has remained one of the few areas of sustained engagement between Pakistan and India, even as broader diplomatic relations have largely remained frozen.

Officials said the visa issuance reflects Pakistan’s continued facilitation of religious tourism and its commitment to promoting interfaith harmony and cultural exchange.