GUJRAT: Punjab Minister for Human Rights and Minorities Ramesh Singh Arora says that the relationship between the Sikh community and Pakistan is very strong.

He praised Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz for winning the hearts of the minorities by announcing the issuance of special cards for them during the Diwali celebration as well as plans to eliminate the distinction between the minorities and majority.

He made the statement after cutting a cake for the 244th birth anniversary of Maharaja Ranjit Singh in Gujranwala on Saturday.

The minister directed district administration officials to complete the renovation of Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s Haveli at the earliest. He said, “For the first time, we are celebrating Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s birth anniversary, and historically, for the first time, the Chief Minister’s House was opened for the minorities during Diwali”.

He announced that the next year’s anniversary celebrations would also take place at Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s Haveli.

Deputy Commissioner Naveed Ahmed said the renovation work would be completed with an estimated cost of Rs90m under the supervision of the experts from the Walled City of Lahore Authority and the Archaeology Department. He said the district administration was taking steps to promote tourism, inviting the global Sikh community to Gujranwala that had many historical sites, including Gurdwara Aroori Sahib, Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s Haveli, and the samadhis of Mahan Singh and Churr Singh.

Sardar Kancharm Singh, Assistant Commissioner Ikram Bin and representatives from the Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee were also present.

Published in Dawn, November 3rd, 2024