HASSAN ABDAL: (Yaseen Hashmi) Ajay Banga the President of the World Bank was invited to a visit to Gurdwara Sri Panja Sahib in Hassan Abdal one of the most sacred places in the Sikh religion to deliver a very strong message of interfaith tolerance and religious harmony.
As part of the visit, Banga prayed in the gurdwara and experienced the traditional langar, where free meals are offered to everyone who comes to visit it irrespective of their religion. He was accompanied by the Federal Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb and Punjab Provincial Minister of Human Rights and Minority Affairs Sardar Ramesh Singh Arora.
Addressing the event, Arora indicated that the visit of World Bank president was a sign of Pakistan to uphold the total freedom of religions to all individuals. He further stated that upon instructions of the Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, there is some renovation and restoration work being done on the historical religious sites within the entire province.
According to Arora, the Punjab government is making real efforts to facilitate religious tourism, as thousands of local and overseas Sikh pilgrims flock to Gurdwara Sri Panja Sahib annually during the Baisakhi festival to do their religious indulging.
Other people that attended the visit included additional secretary of Shrines Nasir Mushtaq, additional secretary of human rights and Minority Affairs Haider Abbas Wattoo, the commissioner of Rawalpindi, the city police officer and the deputy commissioner of Attock.
The trip was generally regarded as a good move towards helping Pakistan build the image of a nation that appreciates diversity, tolerance and harmonious living among religions.
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