The Pakistan high commission on Monday said that it had granted 96 visas to a group of Indian pilgrims for facilitating their journey to the Shree Katas Raj temples in the Chakwal region of the Punjab state, news agency PTI reported.
Every year, Sikh and Hindu pilgrims from India travel to Pakistan under the terms of a bilateral agreement on visits to sacred sites. According to the convention, yearly pilgrims from Pakistan also travel to India.
"The Pakistan High Commission has issued 96 visas to a group of Indian Hindu pilgrims for their visit to the prominent and sacred Shree Katas Raj temples, also known as Qila Katas, in Chakwal district of Punjab from December 20-25," the Pakistani mission statement was quoted by PTI in its report.
According to the statement, the government of Pakistan's attempts to facilitate visits to religious places are consistent with the granting of visas to Sikh and Hindu pilgrims.
According to the high commission, Charge d'Affaires Aftab Hasan Khan wished the pilgrims a pleasant journey and emphasised Pakistan's continued commitment to protecting important holy sites and offering all necessary aid to pilgrims of all religions who are travelling there.
Earlier last month, in accordance with a bilateral convention on visits to religious shrines, Pakistan had granted 100 visas to Indian pilgrims who seek to visit a number of the neighbouring nation's sacred sites, news agency ANI reported.
Every year, thousands of Sikh and Hindu pilgrims from India go to Pakistan to observe religious festivals and events, as per the India-Pakistan Protocol on Visits to Religious Shrines of 1974.
Hindus from all around the world revere Shadani Darbar, a temple that is more than 300 years old. Sant Shadaram Sahib, who was born in Lahore in 1708, established the Shadani Darbar in 1786.
(With Inputs From Agencies)