Stepping ahead to strengthen the disputed Indo-Pak relations, the Pakistan government has decided to declare a historic pilgrimage site, the Panja Sahib, as a “holy city.”
A function would be organized by Pak-Indo Friendship Association (PIFA) to mark this important event; the decision is supposed to benefit the Sikh minority community living in that area.
The decision has secured thumbs-up from the Sikhs world over and led to a breakthrough in improving the bilateral relations of the two nuclear power rich neighbors. The step taken by the Pakistan government is commendable keeping in view the religious and cultural differences of its minor population.
Arif Chaudhry, the president of PIFA and Legal Consulate Ministry of Interior Government of Pakistan, made the announcement during his meeting with Punjab’s Chief Minister Prakash Singh Badal.
An official press release said that Badal appreciated the Pakistan government and the concerted efforts of the association for the decision. He said that he had always welcomed the further strengthening of the bilateral ties between India and Pakistan through opening the Hussainiwal and Fazilka border that would give far more impetus to boost trade & business activity in the sub-continent.
Badal said the communal harmony, amity, and brotherhood amongst people of different religions were at par excellence in Punjab. He hoped that with the formation of the new Nawaz Sharif-led government in Pakistan, the bilateral relations would further improve and new business and cultural exchange avenues would enhance through promoting people-to-people contact programmers.
Chaudhry apprised the chief minister that PIFA, jointly founded in 2003 to foster a sense of friendship amongst the people of both the countries, would ensure the development of the town in a planned manner.
