The visas will allow Indian pilgrims to attend the 316th birth anniversary celebrations at Shadani Darbar in Sindh, reaffirming the commitment to religious tourism ties.
New Delhi, January 4: The Pakistan High Commission in India announced on Friday that it has issued 94 visas to Indian pilgrims for attending the 316th Birth Anniversary Celebrations of Shiv Avtari Sant Shadaram Sahib at Shadani Darbar Hayat Pitafi, Sindh, scheduled from January 5 to January 15, 2025.
In an official post on X (formerly Twitter), the Pakistan High Commission stated:
“@PakinIndia has issued 94 visas to Indian pilgrims for their visit to Pakistan to participate in the 316th Birth Anniversary Celebrations of Shiv Avtari Stguru Sant Shadaram Sahib, at Shadani Darbar Hayat Pitafi, Sindh from 05-15 January 2025.”
@PakinIndia has issued 94 visas to Indian pilgrims for their visit to Pakistan to participate in the 316th Birth Anniversary Celebrations of Shiv Avtari Stguru Sant Shadaram Sahib, at Shadani Darbar Hayat Pitafi, Sindh from 05-15 January 2025.@ForeignOfficePk@Saadawarraich
— Pakistan High Commission India (@PakinIndia) January 3, 2025
Previous Visa Issuance for Pilgrims
Earlier, on November 22, 2024, the High Commission had issued 87 visas to Indian Hindu pilgrims for the same event, held from November 24 to December 4, 2024.
In a statement, Charge d’Affaires Saad Ahmad Warraich had extended his best wishes to the pilgrims, emphasizing Pakistan’s commitment to preserving sacred religious sites and ensuring seamless facilitation for visiting pilgrims.
“Pakistan remains committed to preserving sacred religious places as well as providing necessary facilitation to the visiting pilgrims,” Warraich stated.
Protocol on Religious Tourism
The issuance of these visas falls under the Pakistan-India Protocol on Visits to Religious Shrines of 1974, which facilitates citizens from both countries to visit religious shrines across the border.
The Shadani Darbar, one of the most revered Hindu pilgrimage sites in Sindh, Pakistan, was founded by Sant Shadaram Sahib in the 18th century and holds deep cultural and spiritual significance for devotees.
The visa issuance reflects ongoing efforts to strengthen people-to-people ties and promote religious tourism between India and Pakistan.