Since Punjab was the centre of activities for Sikh Gurus, and later the political power base of the Sikhs, there are numerous sites in Pakistan that are sacred to the Sikh community. Among the sacred shrines is Gurdwara Darbar Sahib, Kartarpur, near Lahore. Thousands of pilgrims visit these places from all over the globe. Pakistan opened the Kartarpur Corridor to provide Indian Sikh pilgrims a visa-free access. Kartarpur Corridor was renovated and expanded as a symbol of goodwill of the people of Pakistan for the Sikh community and to pave way for interfaith harmony. All Gurdwaras and Sikh shrines in Pakistan have been declared sacred places and are meticulously maintained by the government.
Pakistan is also a land of Saints and Sufis who preached amity, peace and universal love. Their teachings promoted religious co-existence, communal harmony and tolerance in society. Perhaps that is why there has always been communal harmony in Pakistan. The shrines of Data Ganj Bakhsh Hajveri, Hazrat Abdullah Shah Ghazi, Hazrat Lal Shahbaz Qalandar, Sachal Sarmast, and Hazrat Bahauddin Zakaria, are worth a visit for spiritual solace and eternal satisfaction.
Question 1: What is the significance of Gurdwara Darbar Sahib, Kartarpur, near Lahore for the Sikh community?
Answer: Gurdwara Darbar Sahib, Kartarpur, near Lahore, is a sacred shrine for the Sikh community, and thousands of pilgrims visit it from all over the globe.
Question 2: How has Pakistan facilitated access for Indian Sikh pilgrims to Gurdwara Darbar Sahib?
Answer: Pakistan opened the Kartarpur Corridor to provide Indian Sikh pilgrims with visa-free access to Gurdwara Darbar Sahib, as a symbol of goodwill and to promote interfaith harmony.
Question 3: How are Gurdwaras and Sikh shrines in Pakistan maintained?
Answer: All Gurdwaras and Sikh shrines in Pakistan have been declared sacred places and are meticulously maintained by the government.
Question 4: What role did Saints and Sufis play in Pakistani society, according to the paragraph?
Answer: Saints and Sufis in Pakistan preached amity, peace, and universal love, promoting religious co-existence, communal harmony, and tolerance in society.
Question 5: How does the paragraph suggest communal harmony has been maintained in Pakistan?
Answer: The teachings of Saints and Sufis in Pakistan have fostered communal harmony, and the shrines of various spiritual figures are cited as places worth visiting for spiritual solace and eternal satisfaction.
Question 6: Name three of the shrines mentioned in the paragraph and their significance?
Answer: The shrines mentioned in the paragraph are Data Ganj Bakhsh Hajveri, Hazrat Abdullah Shah Ghazi, Hazrat Lal Shahbaz Qalandar, Sachal Sarmast, and Hazrat Bahauddin Zakaria, known for promoting peace, religious tolerance, and communal harmony in Pakistan.