Vaisakhi celebrations concluded

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 19th Apr, 2026) The Vaisakhi festival celebrations have concluded, and Indian Sikh pilgrims, after completing their visit to Pakistan, have departed for India carrying a message of peace and love. The pilgrims expressed heartfelt gratitude for the exemplary hospitality, facilities, and respect they received during their stay in Pakistan.

At Wagah Border, Provincial Minister for Minority Affairs Sardar Ramesh Singh Arora, Chairman Evacuee Trust Property board Qamar-uz-Zaman, Additional Secretary Shrines Nasir Mushtaq, and other officials bid farewell to the pilgrims.

Jatha leader Sardar Harjeet Singh stated that the visit to Pakistan was memorable for them, while Sardar Surjeet Singh said that Pakistan has set a new example of love for minorities. The pilgrims shared that they were provided with excellent facilities including accommodation, transport, medical care, and security by the Evacuee Trust Property Board and other institutions. They also noted that despite regional tensions, the Government of Pakistan ensured a peaceful environment and complete freedom for religious practices.

The pilgrims acknowledged that they had arrived with some negative perceptions about Pakistan, but their experience here changed their views completely. They were deeply touched by the love, respect, and hospitality they received, which they said they would never forget. They further stated that they would share Pakistan’s message of love in India and other parts of the world.

Chairman ETPB Qamar-uz-Zaman, speaking on the occasion, said that serving minorities is a matter of pride and that Pakistan stands as a practical example of interfaith harmony where all religions enjoy complete freedom.

He added that the positive feedback from Sikh pilgrims reflects Pakistan’s true and positive image, and the government will continue to take further steps to promote religious tourism.

More than 2,200 Sikh pilgrims reached Wagah Border via special buses, where special arrangements had been made by the Evacuee Trust Property Board and the Government of Punjab. Many pilgrims became emotional at the time of departure, describing the love they received in Pakistan as beyond words.

Provincial Minister Sardar Ramesh Singh Arora, while speaking to the media, said that the pilgrims were served wholeheartedly from their arrival to departure. He added that Indian media had portrayed a negative image of Pakistan, but the tears of love in the pilgrims’ eyes at the time of departure clearly reflect the reality that Pakistan is a peaceful and hospitable country. He also mentioned the closure of the Kartarpur Corridor and appealed to the Indian government to reopen it.

Additional Secretary Shrines Nasir Mushtaq stated that serving the pilgrims is an honor and that the best possible facilities were provided to them. He said that the large number of Sikh pilgrims visiting Pakistan is a sign of their trust, and further facilitation will be ensured in the coming years so that more pilgrims can visit their religious sites in Pakistan.

Thus, with the conclusion of the Vaisakhi festival, Sikh pilgrims departed carrying with them Pakistan’s message of love, peace, and brotherhood.