Pak govt lays artificial turf in Kartarpur Sahib gurdwara to facilitate pilgrims in hot weather
LAHORE: The Pakistan government has laid a 16,000-foot artificial turf in the courtyard of the Kartarpur Sahib Gurdwara to facilitate bare-footed pilgrims walk on the marble floor in the scorching heat, a top official said on Monday.
Sikh pilgrims from Pakistan have been visiting the gurdwara after it was reopened on June 29 following its closure for three months due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
“Astroturf was laid on the marble floor of Gurdwara Darbar Sahib last week,” Evacuee Trust Property Board spokesperson Amir Hashmi said. He said the gurdwara floor is carpeted with 16,000-ft turf in the courtyard to facilitate pilgrims as they have to walk bare-foot on the marble floor and in this hot weather, it is difficult to walk or sit on it. Indian pilgrims are currently not visiting the gurdwara as India temporarily suspended the pilgrimage and registration for the Kartarpur Sahib Gurdwara on March 16 in view of the coronavirus outbreak. Pilgrims of all faiths from India are allowed to undertake round the year visa-free travel to the historic gurdwara in Pakistan’s Punjab province.
NO GREEN SIGNAL FROM INDIA
“Still there has been no green signal from India to allow Sikhs to visit the gurdwara,” Hashmi said, adding Pakistani Sikhs, however, are visiting it since June 29.
Sikhs from Pakistan and India are allowed to visit the Darabar Sahib by following the standard operating protocol (SOPs) for social distancing. Evacuee Trust Property Board and Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee have made special arrangements for the safety of the pilgrims.
SHORT NOTICE OF TWO DAYS
The sources also wondered why Pakistan proposed to reopen it in such a short notice of two days while a bilateral agreement on the corridor provided for information to be shared by both sides at least seven days before the date of travel.