Shiromani Gurudwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), an apex religious body of Sikhs, would send Sikh priests and scholars to Pakistan to disseminate the message of Sikhism in various provinces including Sindh and Lahore.
Akal Takht (top temporal seat of Sikhs) head Gurbachan Singh, during a meeting with Sikhs from Sindh province of Pakistan, said he would issue directions to SGPC to arrange different teams of Sikh preachers, scholars, Ragis (who sings religious hymns with traditional musical instruments) to visit Pakistan as per requirement raised by the Pakistan Sikh Gurudwara Parbandhak Committee (PSGPC).
He said a delegation of 130 Sindhi Sikhs apprised him of several problems being faced by the Sikh Community in Pakistan.
He said that in Pakistan there was acute shortage of Sikh preachers and as a result in many Gurdwaras recitation of holy Guru Granth Sahib cannot be carried out as per the mandatory Sikh religious tenets.
He said SGPC would manage the visas for the team of erudite Sikh preachers and Ragis to visit Pakistan to discharge religious duties.
Leader of delegation of Sindhi Pakistani Sikhs, Deepak Singh and deputy leader Ramesh Singh said that in Karachi and Sindh, the Muslim community had great respect for Sikhs and Sikh religion and Muslims often visit Gurdwaras with their family members to pay obeisance.
The Muslim community described the founder of Sikhism Guru Nanak Dev as Baba Nanak Peer (saint).
Deepak Singh and Ramesh Singh said that in many families Sikh children were keen to learn singing religious hymns with traditional and ancient musical instruments but lacked teachers.
Deepak Singh and Ramesh Singh said nearly 3000 people of Sikh community live in Sindh province of Pakistan where Hindu and Muslim community members live in adjoining houses and have cordial relations with each other.
Talking about the developments of Gurdwaras in Pakistan, Deepak Singh and Ramesh Singh said that Aukaf Board granted adequate funds to PSGPC for this purpose.
With the help of funds given by Pakistan government in more than one dozen Gurdwaras, multi-storeyed, air conditioned guests houses have been built.
News Source: Outlook India
