India
oi-Madhuri Adnal
New Delhi, February 17The Union Ministry of the Interior on Thursday denied permission to 600 Sikh pilgrims who intended to visit gurdwaras in Pakistan, citing security and the COVID-19 situation in that country, authorities said.
In a communication to the Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC), the Interior Ministry said that the security situation in Pakistan remains adverse and that there is a threat to Indian citizens in that country.
Additionally, the COVID-19 pandemic has affected five lakh people in Pakistan and 10,000 people lost their lives due to the disease.
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The health infrastructure in Pakistan is also not adequate, the ministry said.
He also said that both passenger and commercial traffic between India and Pakistan has stopped since March 2020 due to the pandemic.
Citing these reasons, the Interior Ministry informed the SGPC that it has decided not to grant permission to the Jatha which comprises 600 pilgrims who intended to cross into Pakistan on Friday.
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