Punjab Sets Up Special Wards, Tight Security for Sikh Pilgrims

News Desk 

Lahore: As Pakistan prepares to host thousands of Sikh devotees for the 556th birth anniversary of Baba Guru Nanak Dev Ji, the founder of Sikhism, the government has unveiled a series of special arrangements — from dedicated hospital wards in Punjab to special trains carrying pilgrims from Sindh — underscoring its commitment to interfaith harmony and hospitality.

Punjab Health Minister and Chairman Cabinet Committee on Law and Order Khawaja Salman Rafique announced that special medical wards will be established in Lahore and Faisalabad hospitals to serve Sikh pilgrims visiting from across the world. He made the announcement while chairing a joint meeting with Punjab Minister for Minority Affairs Sardar Ramesh Singh Arora to review arrangements for the upcoming celebrations at Gurdwara Janam Asthan, Nankana Sahib.

Rafique said the initiative was being carried out under the special instructions of Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, adding that ensuring the safety, health, and comfort of pilgrims was the provincial government’s top priority.

“Every religion and sect holds Baba Guru Nanak Dev Ji in high regard. The purpose of visiting Nankana Sahib is to express solidarity with the Sikh community,” he said, directing officers to treat all guests with “utmost courtesy.”

He added that special hospital wards will guarantee quality healthcare, while uninterrupted food, accommodation, and sanitation facilities will be provided throughout the festivities.

Read More: https://thepenpk.com/abduction-of-four-hindu-minors-in-sindh-sparks-outcry/

Minister for Minority Affairs Sardar Ramesh Singh Arora shared that celebrations will begin with the Akhand Pat ritual, culminating in the main ceremony at Gurdwara Janam Asthan on November 5, followed by a Nagar Kirtan procession.

Around 2,100 Sikh pilgrims from India are expected to arrive via the Wagah border, while nearly 30,000 devotees from across Pakistan and other countries will take part in the celebrations. Over 5,000 officers and officials have been deployed for security and facilitation, supported by CCTV surveillance, control rooms, and cleanliness drives.

Arora noted that Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz personally attends minority community events, emphasizing equitable treatment and ensuring the provision of essential goods at fixed rates along with smooth traffic management.

At Larkana Railway Station, the spirit of celebration was equally high as a special train carrying more than 230 pilgrims from Larkana and Qambar-Shahdadkot departed for Nankana Sahib. Men, women, and children boarded the train with joy and devotion, waving as the platform echoed with the beats of drums and shehnais.

Local leaders, including Harish Lal, Muni Gul, and Vishal Malani, bid farewell to the pilgrims amid emotional scenes of interfaith unity and festive cheer. Strict security measures were in place at the station to ensure safe travel.

The Sikh pilgrims will join devotees from around the globe for the three-day celebrations, which run from November 3 to 6, marking one of the largest annual gatherings of the Sikh faith.

In Nankana Sahib, preparations are in full swing — gurdwaras are being washed with rose water, streets are decorated, and uninterrupted gas and electricity supply has been assured throughout the event.

The combined efforts across provinces — from Sindh’s railway send-off to Punjab’s special hospital wards — reflect a broader message of religious inclusion and respect, celebrating the shared cultural and spiritual heritage that continues to bind communities across Pakistan.