Lahore:Punjab Minister for Minorities Affairs Sardar Ramesh Singh Arora held separate meetings with Canadian Members of Parliament Iqwinder S. Gaheer and Ruby Sahota to discuss religious harmony, cultural diversity, interfaith tolerance and the preservation of Sikh religious heritage in Pakistan.
During the meetings, the minister briefed the Canadian parliamentarians on the Punjab government’s plan to restore and preserve 50 historic gurdwaras across the province under the vision of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif.
He invited the global Sikh Sangat and the Canadian Sikh community to contribute to the management and upkeep of the historic gurdwaras being restored, highlighting the importance of international community participation in preserving Sikh heritage.
Arora reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to keeping the Kartarpur Corridor safe, open and accessible to Sikh pilgrims from around the world. Discussions also covered facilities available to pilgrims at Gurdwara Darbar Sahib Kartarpur and concerns regarding restrictions on access from the Indian side.
The minister also highlighted Pakistan’s streamlined visa system, saying that facilitating international Sikh pilgrims was important for promoting religious tourism and enabling the Sikh community to visit its sacred sites.
The meetings explored avenues for strengthening cooperation between Pakistan and Canada in heritage preservation, interfaith engagement and cultural exchange.
Arora invited both MPs to undertake official visits to Pakistan. He also extended an invitation to a delegation of young Canadian parliamentarians and youth leaders to visit the country to promote people-to-people contacts, religious understanding and cultural cooperation.