Pakistan Hindu Council, PIA sign MoU to promote religious tourism

KARACHI: Pakistan International Airline CEO Air Marshal (retd) Arshad Malik signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with patron-in-chief of Pakistan Hindu Council (PHC) Dr Ramesh Kumar to promote religious tourism.

Under the MoU, PIA will operate monthly flights from Karachi and Dubai to Peshawar for Hindu pilgrims visiting Teri Temple in Karak, Bol News reported.

Dr Kumar also shared the news on his Twitter handle and deemed the agreement ‘a great achievement’.

Good news. Pakistan Hindu Council & @Official_PIA join hands to promote faith tourism in #Pakistan. Monthly flights from Karachi & Dubai to Peshawar for visiting Samadhi of Shri Param Hans Ji Maharaj / Teri Temple. Indeed a great achievement!@amarshadmalik pic.twitter.com/TCYgAZITKW

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— Dr. Ramesh Vankwani (@RVankwani) December 3, 2021

On the other hand, the national flag carrier CEO also thanked Dr Kumar and said, “PIA facilitated Hindu community for their religious journey with an intent to serve all religions.”

“Regardless of religion, creed, caste we as Pakistanis are one.’ Living up to golden saying of our Quaid Azam,” the CEO added.

'Regardless of religion, creed, caste we as Pakistanis are one.' Living up to golden saying of our #QuaidAzam, PIA facilitated #Hindu community for their religious journey with an intent to serve all religions, thx to Dr Rumesh
PIA LIKE PAKISTAN IS FOR ALL PAKISTANI'S pic.twitter.com/o7udnLPMmD

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— Air Marshal Arshad Malik (@amarshadmalik) December 2, 2021

More than 100 Hindu pilgrims from neighbouring India are arriving in Pakistan via the Wagah border to visit their religious sites in the country.

Earlier this month, Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi had issued 136 visas to Hindu pilgrims. The issuance of pilgrimage visas to Hindu and Sikh pilgrims was in line with Pakistan’s efforts to facilitate visits to religious shrines.

The group of Indian Hindu pilgrims is visiting Pakistan to participate in the 313th birth anniversary celebrations of Shiv Avtari Satguru Sant Shadaram Sahib at Shadani Darbar Hayat Pitafi in Sindh starting from December 4.

Read more: Pakistan High Commission in Delhi issues visas to 136 Hindu pilgrims

Shandani Darbar is an over 300 years old temple and a sacred place for Hindu devotees from across the globe. The Hindu pilgrims would also visit their historic temple, Sadhu Bela, in Sukkur.

The visiting pilgrims would return to India on December 15.

Last month, Sikh pilgrims from India, including former Indian cricket star Navjot Singh Sidhu and across the world, also came to Pakistan to attend the 552nd birth anniversary of Sikhism founder Guru Nanak, which started on November 17 and continued till 26 of the month.