New Delhi, August 18, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
A high-level delegation of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), led by its president Advocate Harjinder Singh Dhami, met officials of the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi on Tuesday and urged them to facilitate visas for more than 7,500 Sikh pilgrims seeking to travel to Pakistan for the November 2026 celebrations marking the birth anniversary of Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji.
The delegation met the High Commission’s chief officer, Janab Shayad Ahmad Warraich, and submitted a written representation seeking liberal issuance of visas for the pilgrims. The delegation included SGPC member Bhai Rajinder Singh Mehta, former Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee president Paramjit Singh Sarna, Manjit Singh GK, SGPC secretary Balwinder Singh Kahlewan and manager Rajinder Singh Ruby.
Dhami said every Sikh cherishes the opportunity to participate in the celebrations at Gurdwara Sri Nankana Sahib, the birthplace of Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji. He urged the Pakistan High Commission to consider the religious significance of the pilgrimage while processing the visa applications.
He said the SGPC sends Sikh pilgrims to Pakistan every year under agreements between the governments of India and Pakistan. Ordinarily, the Pakistan High Commission issues visas to around 1,800 pilgrims whose names are submitted by the SGPC.
According to Dhami, the demand for pilgrimage visas has increased significantly amid the non-issuance of visas to privately organised Sikh groups in recent times and the closure of the Sri Kartarpur Sahib Corridor. More than 7,500 Sikh devotees have already submitted their passports to the SGPC for the November 2026 pilgrimage.
Describing the figure as an expression of the Sikh community’s deep religious and emotional connection with Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji and the historic gurdwaras in Pakistan, Dhami called for special arrangements to accommodate the pilgrims beyond the prescribed quota.
He said the pilgrimage was undertaken out of religious devotion and a desire to pay homage at historic Sikh shrines associated with the Gurus. He expressed hope that the Pakistan government and High Commission would respond positively and enable the maximum possible number of pilgrims to participate in the Gurpurab celebrations and visit Gurdwara Sri Nankana Sahib and other historic gurdwaras.
Dhami also appealed to the Government of India to take up the matter effectively with Pakistan and facilitate the pilgrimage of as many Sikh devotees as possible. He further urged the Centre to immediately reopen the Sri Kartarpur Sahib Corridor, keeping in view the sentiments of the Sikh community.
During the meeting, Dhami honoured Pakistan High Commission officials by presenting them a commemorative golden model of Sachkhand Sri Harmandir Sahib and a shawl.
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