‘Spiritual home’: Sikh pilgrims mark Baisakhi at Pakistan’s Panja Sahib shrine

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Updated 14 April 2025
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‘Spiritual home’: Sikh pilgrims mark Baisakhi at Pakistan’s Panja Sahib shrine

‘Spiritual home’: Sikh pilgrims mark Baisakhi at Pakistan’s Panja Sahib shrine
  • Pakistan has issued more than 6,500 visas to Indian Sikh pilgrims for the Baisakhi festival from April 10-19
  • Sikhism’s founder Guru Nanak was born in 1469 in village in Nankana Sahib near eastern Pakistani city of Lahore

HASAN ABDAL, Pakistan: For much of the year, Hasan Abdal, a small town about 45 kilometers northwest of Islamabad, remains quiet and uneventful. But this week, its narrow streets have come to life with color and devotion as Sikh pilgrims from India and other countries gather at Gurdwara Panja Sahib in their vibrant turbans and flowing beards to mark Baisakhi, one of the holiest days in the Sikh calendar.

The festival, held every April 14, commemorates the founding of the Khalsa, the Sikh order established by Guru Gobind Singh in 1699, and coincides with the spring harvest.

For many pilgrims, the journey to Pakistan, which is home to some of Sikhism’s most sacred sites, is a once-in-a-lifetime spiritual experience.

“What Makkah and Madinah are for Muslims, Pakistan is for Sikhs,” Sardar Sartook Singh, president of the temple in Hasan Abdal, told Arab News.

“Every year, around 3,000 pilgrims come from India, along with many more from other parts of the world, to Gurdwara Panja Sahib for the Baisakhi celebrations,” he continued. “This year, the Government of Pakistan issued over 6,000 visas to Indian pilgrims. Out of these, around 5,800 have arrived.”




The picture, taken on April 12, 2025, shows the foundation stone of the sacred tank laid by the ninth and last ruling Maharaja of Patiala, Tikka Yadavindra Singh, in 1989 at the Panja Sahib shrine in Hasan Abdal, Pakistan. (AN photo)

In recent years, Pakistan has stepped up efforts to promote religious tourism by providing easy access to historic sites linked to Hinduism, Sikhism and Buddhism.

A key initiative is the Kartarpur Corridor, launched in November 2019, which allows Sikhs from India to visit Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Kartarpur without a visa. The site holds deep significance as the place where Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikhism, spent his final years.




Sikh devotees take a dip in the holy sarovar at the Gurdwara Panja Sahib during the Baisakhi festival, the annual spring harvest festival, in Hasan Abdal on April 12, 2025. (AN photo)

The temple in Hasan Abdal also holds immense importance. According to legend, Guru Nanak once stopped a boulder, thrown at him by a local saint, with his hand, leaving behind the imprint, or panja, that gives the shrine its name.

Today, the site draws pilgrims from India, the United Kingdom, Canada and beyond, many of whom also visit two other important Gurdwaras of Kartarpur Sahib and Nankana Sahib.

“I had always dreamt of visiting Guru [Nanak] Ji’s shrine,” said 60-year-old Jaranjeet Kaur, who traveled from Patiala in India with her niece. “Seeing it made me happier than the birth of my first child.”




A Sikh devotee worships during the Baisakhi festival at the Panja Sahib shrine in Hasan Abdal, Pakistan, on April 12, 2025. (AN photo)

Her niece Sugdeep Kaur also expressed her emotions about their ongoing journey.

“Since childhood, we heard of the imprint of Guru Nanak’s hand on a boulder with flowing water,” she said. “But witnessing it in person brings immense peace. I’ll return next year with my children from Canada.”




The picture taken on April 12, 2025, shows the carved marble floor of the Panja Sahib shrine in Hasan Abdal, Pakistan. (AN photo)

One of Sikhism’s features is selfless service, or sewa, which is also central to this spiritual gathering. Pilgrims from India and other places can be seen working in the kitchen or helping others. One of them, Sukhpal Kaur, washes dishes with a smile.

“Without sewa, there is no mewa [reward],” she said. “No one has asked us to help, but it’s a blessing to serve.”




A Sikh devotee worships during the Baisakhi festival at the Panja Sahib shrine in Hasan Abdal, Pakistan, on April 12, 2025. (AN photo)

Amarjeet Kaur, another Indian pilgrim from Barnala, said her trip to Pakistan was like a dream come true.

“I used to pray daily to see Baba Guru Nanak’s shrine,” she said. “This year, he has listened. The care shown by Pakistani pilgrims also compelled us to join in sewa.”




The picture taken on April 12, 2025, shows a decorated hallway of the Panja Sahib shrine in Hasan Abdal, Pakistan. (AN photo)

Speaking to Arab News, Saifullah Khokhar, additional secretary of shrines at the Evacuee Trust Property Board, said there was a marked increase in the number of Sikh pilgrims every year.

“Religious tourism has grown 72 percent in the past seven months,” he said. “Visitors leave with a changed view of Pakistan, one of hospitality and peace.”

As Sikh pilgrims at the temple chanted hymns, shared meals and bathed in the sacred water at Panja Sahib, their presence transformed the quiet town into a vibrant expression of faith, community and cross-border connection.

“Pakistan is more sacred to Sikhs [living abroad] than to Pakistanis themselves,” Singh, the Gurdwara’s president, said. “Our faith began here. It is our spiritual home.”

 


Relief operations underway as Pakistan rain death toll nears 200

Relief operations underway as Pakistan rain death toll nears 200
Updated 15 sec ago
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Relief operations underway as Pakistan rain death toll nears 200

Relief operations underway as Pakistan rain death toll nears 200
  • The downpours have also damaged nearly 700 homes across the South Asian country
  • Punjab deputy commissioners to remain in field until rainwater drainage is completed

ISLAMABAD: Authorities were conducting relief operations in several areas across Pakistan after this week’s torrential rains appeared to largely subside, with the death toll from rain-related incidents nearing 200 since late June.

Pakistan’s most populous Punjab province has been the hardest hit with 114 deaths, followed by 40 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), 21 in Sindh, 16 in Balochistan and one each in Islamabad and Azad Kashmir since June 26, according to the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA).

Authorities rescued four special persons who were stranded in floodwaters, while 18 others were evacuated to safety in Kacha Rokhri area in Punjab’s Minawali district, the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz party said on X, citing authorities.

“Immediate cleaning of landslide-affected roads in different areas of Chakwal has started. Administration, rescue and heavy machinery are present on the spot,” the party said.

“Deputy commissioners have been instructed to remain in the field until rainwater drainage is completed.”

The downpours have also damaged nearly 700 homes across the South Asian country, according to the disaster management authorities. Rations, blankets and tents are being distributed by local administrations in affected areas.

“Scattered thunderstorm/rain with isolated heavy falls is expected over Sindh, East Balochistan and South Punjab,” the NDMA said in its weather outlook for Saturday and Sunday.

Monsoon season brings South Asia 70 to 80 percent of its annual rainfall, arriving in early June in India and late June in Pakistan, and lasting through until September.

The annual rains are vital for agriculture and food security, and the livelihoods of millions of farmers. But increasingly erratic and extreme weather patterns are turning the rains into a destructive force.

In 2022, record-breaking monsoon rains combined with glacial melt submerged nearly a third of Pakistan, killing more than 1,700 people and displacing over 8 million. In May, at least 32 people were killed in severe storms, including strong hailstorms.


Pakistani tech firms urge 10-year tax stability, one-window compliance to ‘supercharge’ exports

Pakistani tech firms urge 10-year tax stability, one-window compliance to ‘supercharge’ exports
Updated 46 min 9 sec ago
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Pakistani tech firms urge 10-year tax stability, one-window compliance to ‘supercharge’ exports

Pakistani tech firms urge 10-year tax stability, one-window compliance to ‘supercharge’ exports
  • Pakistan recorded monthly IT exports of $338 million in June, up by 14% year on year and by 3% month on month
  • Tech firms say they aren’t seeking subsidies, but predictability, digitalization and administrative simplification

KARACHI: Pakistan can unlock billions in tech investment if it gives investors predictable taxes, friction-free remittances and a single digital compliance experience, the Pakistan Software Houses Association (P@SHA) said on Friday.

P@SHA said it presented a “Continuity & Consistency reform package” to the Ministry of Finance earlier this year, laying out a small number of high-impact changes that would slash compliance costs, bring tens of thousands of remote digital workers into the formal tax net, and catalyze both domestic and foreign investment into Pakistani tech firms.

The requested changes are not subsidies; they are predictability, digitalization, and administrative simplification. Most steps can be budget-neutral or revenue-positive once increased documentation, broadened compliance, and higher recorded export flows are taken into account.

“Every serious investor, local or international, asks the same two questions: What will my tax exposure be, and will the rules change after I invest?” P@SHA Chairman Sajjad Syed said.

“Right now, innovators spend too much time navigating overlapping regimes and too little time building export-earning products. If we hard-code continuity and make compliance near effortless, capital will move to Pakistan.”

Pakistan tech firms have been demonstrating their growing potential in the IT sector by showcasing their products and services at global forums, including the LEAP tech conference in Riyadh and GITEX global exhibition in Dubai.

Pakistan recorded monthly IT exports of $338 million in June, up by 14% year on year and by 3% month on month, according to Karachi-based Toplines Securities brokerage and market research firm. This took Pakistan’s annual IT exports to $3.8 billion, up by 18% YoY, in the outgoing fiscal year that ended in June.

In its statement, P@SHA urged continuation of the 10-Year Final Tax Regime (FTR) on information technology/IT-enabled services (IT/ITeS) export income, removal of discrepancies in tax rates where Pakistani IT companies get penalized for running payrolls from Pakistan, exemption of the Capital Gains Tax to secure investor’s confidence among other measures.

The association proposed joint working sessions with the Federal Board of Revenue, Ministry of IT & Telecom, State Bank of Pakistan, National Tax Council, and provincial revenue authorities to translate its proposed reforms package into draft language, digital filing flows, and phased rollout milestones, recommending immediate start of technical work.

“Pakistan stands at an inflection point: with its young talent base, global client footprint, and expanding startup ecosystem, the country can compete for high-value digital work, if investors trust the rules,” it said. “P@SHA urges policymakers to seize this moment to send that signal.”


Pakistan dominate IBSF World Snooker Championship in Bahrain with twin titles

Pakistan dominate IBSF World Snooker Championship in Bahrain with twin titles
Updated 19 July 2025
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Pakistan dominate IBSF World Snooker Championship in Bahrain with twin titles

Pakistan dominate IBSF World Snooker Championship in Bahrain with twin titles
  • Veteran Mohmmad Asif beats India’s Brijesh Damani 4-3 in a nail-biting Masters encounter
  • Hasnain produces clinical display of cue mastery, sweeping past Riley Powell of Wales 4-0

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Friday stamped their authority on the global snooker stage as Mohammad Asif and Muhammad Hasnain clinched both the Masters and Under-17 titles after a thrilling finale at the IBSF World Snooker Championship 2025 in Bahrain.

Asif faced a stern test in the World Masters final, going toe-to-toe with India’s Brijesh Damani in a nail-biting encounter. After six fiercely contested frames, the Pakistani star cueist held his nerve in the decider to edge Damani 4-3, clinching yet another major title.

Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz congratulated Asif on his brilliant win in the Masters category.

“Mohammad Asif has brought pride to Pakistan on the global stage by defeating his Indian opponent through sheer hard work, skill, and determination,” she was quoted as saying by her Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) party.

Muhammad Asif of Pakistan receives the Masters title award at the IBSF World Snooker Championship in Manama, Bahrain, on July 18, 2025. (Handout/IBSF)

Asif advanced to the final with an impressive 4-2 win over India’s Manan Chandra in the semifinal on Thursday at the Crowne Plaza, Bahrain.

Meanwhile, Hasnain produced a clinical display of cue mastery, sweeping past Riley Powell of Wales 4-0 to seize the World Under-17 Snooker crown.

“The young prodigy remained unshaken throughout, showcasing composure beyond his years to secure the gold,” the IBSF said on its website.

Pakistan’s Muhammad Hasnain receives the Under-17 title award at the IBSF World Snooker Championship in Manama, Bahrain, on July 18, 2025. (Handout/IBSF)

 


Pakistan plans to build $10.5 million aquaculture park to promote seafood exports

Pakistan plans to build $10.5 million aquaculture park to promote seafood exports
Updated 19 July 2025
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Pakistan plans to build $10.5 million aquaculture park to promote seafood exports

Pakistan plans to build $10.5 million aquaculture park to promote seafood exports
  • The development comes amid government efforts for sustainable use of ocean resources for economic growth
  • Pakistan’s fish and fish preparation exports reached $465.4 million in the last fiscal year that ended in June

KARACHI: Pakistan is planning to build Rs3 billion ($10.5 million) aquaculture park in the southern port city of Karachi, Maritime Affairs Minister Junaid Anwar Chaudhry announced on Saturday, amid efforts to strengthen the country’s blue economy.

According to the World Bank, the blue economy is defined as sustainable use of ocean resources for economic growth, improving livelihoods and creating jobs, while preserving the ocean ecosystem health.

Pakistan has been pushing to modernize its port infrastructure and expand its role in regional trade by improving cargo handling, digitalizing port operations and encouraging public-private partnerships.

Speaking at a meeting to review progress on blue economy, Chaudhry said this new aquaculture park will be built on 120 acres and directed the Qur'angi Fish Harbor Authority to submit its report within 10 days.

“Pakistani coastal waters are very suitable for aquaculture,” he said in a statement shared by the maritime affairs ministry. “The project will be built under a public-private partnership and the park will boost seafood exports.

Pakistan’s fish and fish preparation exports reached $465.4 million in the outgoing fiscal year that ended in June, according to official data. The exports were up 13.4 percent from $410.3 million in the previous year.

Authorities are currently trying to enhance the potential of Pakistan’s fisheries, logistics and marine services while reducing environmental harm.

“Investment in aquaculture and port infrastructure is essential for national development,” Chaudhry told representatives of Gwadar Port, Qur'angi Fish Harbor, Marine Fisheries and Balochistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry at the meeting.

“The same aquaculture model will be implemented in Balochistan as well.”

In May, the Pakistani government announced the creation of a new Maritime Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI), saying it would serve as a specialized platform for uniting stakeholders from across the maritime spectrum to pursue greener policies and long-term economic resilience.

“This chamber will not only support investment and innovation in the maritime sector but also prioritize sustainability at ports, promote green technologies and foster carbon reduction strategies,” Chaudhry said at the time.


PM Sharif reassures moral, political support to Kashmiris on Accession to Pakistan Day

PM Sharif reassures moral, political support to Kashmiris on Accession to Pakistan Day
Updated 19 July 2025
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PM Sharif reassures moral, political support to Kashmiris on Accession to Pakistan Day

PM Sharif reassures moral, political support to Kashmiris on Accession to Pakistan Day
  • Muslim-majority Himalayan region has been a flashpoint between arch-rivals Pakistan and India since independence in 1947
  • Both countries engaged in a four-day military conflict in May over an attack in the region that India blamed on Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday reassured Pakistan’s continued diplomatic, moral and political support to Kashmiris for the achievement of their right to self-determination, Sharif’s office said, as the Kashmiri people marked ‘Accession to Pakistan Day.’

The Muslim-majority Himalayan region of Kashmir has been divided between Pakistan and India since their independence from British rule in 1947. Both countries rule parts of the Himalayan territory but claim it in full and have fought multiple wars over the disputed region.

The Accession to Pakistan Day is annually observed to commemorate unanimous adoption of a resolution on July 19, 1947 by All Jammu and Kashmir Muslim Conference in Srinagar, which called for Kashmir’s accession in view of aspirations of the Kashmiri people and their religious, geographical, cultural and economic proximity to Pakistan.

“On that day, the brave people of Kashmir passed a resolution for the accession of the state of Jammu and Kashmir to Pakistan,” Sharif said a statement issued from his office.

“A peaceful resolution of the Kashmir issue in accordance with the UN Security Council resolutions is the only guarantee of the rights of the Kashmiris and peace in the region. The government and people of Pakistan will continue to extend diplomatic, moral and political support to the Kashmiris.”

Most Kashmiris in the world observe the day to renew their pledge to complete the merger. In Azad Kashmir, wide-scale programs are organized to highlight the Kashmiri struggle and to demand their right to self-determination under UN resolutions.

This year, the Accession to Pakistan Day is being observed at a time of heightened tensions between Pakistan and India over an attack in Indian-administered Kashmir in April.

New Delhi blamed the assault, which killed 26 people, on Pakistan, an allegation denied by Islamabad. The attacked sparked four days of hostilities between the neighbors, with both sides attacking each other with jets, drones, missiles and artillery before agreeing to a United States-brokered ceasefire on May 10.

The conflict, the deadly between the neighbors in more than two decades, killed dozens of people on both sides.