CHANDIGARH: The Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal Sunday assured the joint delegation of Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee (PSGPC) and International Commission of Human Rights (ICHR) Pakistan that he would soon take up the issue with the Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India for relaxation in visa norms to enable the people to visit their places of faith besides socializing with their relations settled across both sides of Indo-Pak border.

An assurance to this effect was given by  Badal to the delegation led by PSGPC President Jathedar Bishan Singh, which called on him at his residence this evening in the presence of President Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee Jathedar Avtar Singh. Mr. Badal expressed his keen desire that people of both these countries should freely and frequently visit to meet their relations besides promoting economic and cultural ties as we shared a common rich cultural heritage and legacy. He said this could only be feasible if the visa restrictions imposed by the governments are further relaxed.

Badal informed the PSGPC President Jathedar Bishan Singh that he had already taken up the issue with the Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh and Union External Affairs Mr. Pranab Mukharji for allowing a direct corridor to Gurdwara Sri Guru Nanak Dev ji at Kartarpur (on Pakistan side) via Dera Baba Nanak in Gurdaspur District  which was hardly 3 K.Ms to facilitate the devotees to pay obeisance at this sacred place related with the founder of Sikhism Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji. Apart from this the  two issues; one,  opening of a Visa center at Amritsar and  another  allowing the boarding facility to the passengers of Samjauta Express from  Amritsar  railway station would also be taken up on the priority, added Mr. Badal.

The visiting delegation thanked the Chief Minister for declaring them state guests and making all the arrangements of their boarding and lodging at New Delhi and Ajmer Sharif where they were slated to visit their holy shrine.

The Chief Minister accompanied by his Advisor Dr. Daljit Singh Cheema, Principal Secretary D.S. Guru and Special principal Secretary K.J.S. Cheema.

The delegation consisted of member PSGPC  Rawail Singh, Amrik Singh and Kaka Singh both members Sub-Committee Gurdwara Sri Janam Asthan Nankana Sahib besides the members of ICHR Pakistan which included its senior vice Chairman Ch. Nasir. M. Ali, Chief organizer Hafiz Liaqat Ali Zia, Chairperson Women wing Ms. Mehnaz Atta Chaudhary, President District Sargodha Pakistan Javed Iqbal Tiwana and Member ICHR Syed Kamalu Din.