Raza Naqvi Attock
More than 3000 thousands Sikhs devotees from India arrived to participate in their religious rituals at Gurdwara Punja Sahib Hassanabdal of district Attock being arranged from April 12 to 14, 2023 amid tight security cover. This was stated by Additional Secretary Evacuee Trust Property Board Rana Shahid Saleem during his special talks with the media here on Thursday.
Responding different questions of the media persons, he said that 2470 devotees were granted visa from India under their official quota while 500 came through their private sources. They were brought from Lahore by Motorways in 54 air conditioned coaches under foolproof security measures who were accommodated in well furnished marques set up within the jurisdiction of Gurdawara.
The Additional Secretary ETPB Rana Shahid Saleem said that arrangements for more than 25 thousands Sikh and Hindus were made to celebrate their rituals till April 14, 2023. He said the Sikh leaders including President Gurdwara Parbandak Committee Ameer Singh, Indian Jathadar Amritsar Amerjeet Singh and Sheri Committee Amritsar Balwand Singh have also expressed their satisfaction over the arrangements.
He said the Federal Minister for Religious Affairs and Chairman of Evacuee Trust Habib ur Rehman Gillani is also expected to address the concluding session of the Baisakhi festival being held on April 14, 2023. Meanwhile, District Police Officer Attock Dr. Sardar Ghiyas Gul Khan on Thursday while reviewing the over all security measures has said that more than 1000 policemen along with officers deployed at various places to provide fool proof security to Sikh devotees coming across the country and abroad to celebrate their religious obligations at Gurdwara Panja Sahib Hassanabdal during Baisakhi Mela. A special session of all stakeholders was held at Gurdwara Punja Sahib Hassanabdal which was presided over by deputy Commissioner Attock Rao Atif Raza along with District Police Officer (DPO) Ghiyas Gul Khan. Additional Deputy Commissioner (General) Adnan Anjum Raja, Assistant Commissioner Dr Sana Ramchand, officials of ETPB, auqaf department and other administrative officers were also present on this occasion.
The Deputy Commissioner Attock Rao Atif Raza said, “We have finalized plans for security, food and accommodation at the Gurdwara for the devotees.
