Malaysia Visit Aims to Project Pakistan’s Image Globally, Says Provincial Minister Ramesh Singh Arora

ISLAMABAD (Special Correspondent): Punjab Minister for Human Rights and Minorities Affairs Sardar Ramesh Singh Arora has said that the purpose of his visit to Malaysia is to promote Pakistan’s positive, peaceful and religiously tolerant image at the international level by fostering interfaith harmony, religious tolerance and faith tourism.

He made these remarks during his visit to Gurdwara Sahib Petaling Jaya in Malaysia, where he received a warm welcome from the local Sikh community. The visit was undertaken on the special directives of Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif to promote interfaith harmony, religious freedom and faith tourism.

The Minister and the Pakistani delegation were received by the Gurdwara management, former President Avtar Singh Terry, President Dalbir Singh, General Secretary Manisha Kaur and other community leaders. The delegation also included Community Welfare Attaché at the High Commission of Pakistan in Malaysia Hamza Naveed, Sardar Jaskaran Singh, Sardar Pulvinder Singh and Hafiz Muzammil.

During the meeting, both sides discussed matters of mutual interest, including strengthening religious ties, promoting faith tourism and enhancing people-to-people contacts between Pakistan and the Sikh community in Malaysia.

Ramesh Singh Arora conveyed a special message from Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif to the Sikh community and invited them to visit Pakistan in November to participate in the Gurpurab celebrations and pay obeisance at the country’s sacred Gurdwaras.

He said that the Government of Pakistan, the Government of Punjab, the Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee and the Evacuee Trust Property Board are committed to providing world-class facilities, comprehensive security and a peaceful environment for Sikh pilgrims from around the world.

The Provincial Minister said that under the leadership of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, the Punjab Government is undertaking practical measures for the restoration, preservation and development of historic Gurdwaras while giving special attention to the protection of minority rights, promotion of religious freedom and preservation of sacred religious sites.

He reaffirmed that the Punjab Government would continue its efforts to strengthen ties with the global Sikh community and promote religious tourism.

At the conclusion of the visit, the Sikh Sangat of Gurdwara Sahib Petaling Jaya honoured Provincial Minister Ramesh Singh Arora and the Pakistani delegation by presenting them with traditional Siropas in recognition of their services.