Key Highlights:
In a landmark gesture of goodwill, the Pakistan government has granted a record 7,000 visas to Sikh pilgrims from India to attend Khalsa Foundation Day (Baisakhi 2025) celebrations at Nankana Sahib and other sacred gurdwaras. This is the largest number of visas ever issued since the 1947 Partition, and nearly double the quota agreed under the Nehru-Liaquat Pact.
Pilgrims to Enter Pakistan via Attari-Wagah Border on April 10
The Sikh pilgrims will cross into Pakistan on April 10, 2025, through the Attari-Wagah international border, ahead of Khalsa Foundation Day on April 14. The pilgrimage will include visits to major religious shrines, especially Nankana Sahib, the birthplace of Guru Nanak Dev, and several other historic gurdwaras.
What Is the Nehru-Liaquat Pact and Why This Move Matters
As per the Nehru-Liaquat Pact, a 1950 bilateral agreement between India and Pakistan, only 3,000 Sikh pilgrims are allowed to visit Pakistani shrines annually on four major occasions:
- Baisakhi / Khalsa Panth Foundation Day
- Martyrdom Day of Guru Arjan Dev
- Death Anniversary of Maharaja Ranjit Singh
- Birth Anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev
Despite large numbers of applications in the past, visa issuance remained restricted to this cap. This year, Pakistan’s Ministry of Religious Affairs and the Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB) made a special request to exceed the quota.
“The government has issued 6,751 visas, granting 3,751 additional visas,” confirmed Saifullah Khokhar, Additional Secretary, ETPB.
Why This Baisakhi Is Special for Sikh Pilgrims
This extraordinary move is being seen as a positive diplomatic signal amidst long-standing cross-border tensions. For many Sikh devotees, especially first-time pilgrims, this is a deeply spiritual journey to reconnect with their faith’s roots in Pakistan.
Social media has already been flooded with emotional responses and gratitude, with several Sikh leaders calling it a “historic moment of access and inclusion.”
What This Means for You
If you or someone you know is among the 7,000 visa recipients:
- Prepare travel documents and ID ahead of crossing at Attari-Wagah
- Plan visits to gurdwaras like Nankana Sahib, Panja Sahib, and Kartarpur Sahib
- Stay updated via SGPC and ETPB for safety and schedule updates
- Coordinate in groups for lodging and langar during the 10-day pilgrimage
How to Take Action
- Follow updates from Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi and SGPC
- Monitor official border crossing guidelines
- Share this historic opportunity within your community or gurdwara circles
- Post and tag with #Baisakhi2025 #NankanaSahib to spread awareness and joy
Who Will Be Affected
- Sikh devotees eager to visit shrines in Pakistan
- Travel operators and religious organizers coordinating group yatras
- Diplomatic observers tracking Indo-Pak religious diplomacy
- Heritage conservationists and historians watching increased engagement at sacred sites
Pakistan Visa for Sikh Pilgrims 2025 Signals Hope and Historic Unity
As Pakistan opens its doors to nearly 7,000 Sikh pilgrims, the Baisakhi 2025 celebrations at Nankana Sahib are poised to be the most attended in decades. More than just a visa stamp, this act symbolizes a powerful gesture of faith, diplomacy, and cultural healing.
For the Sikh community across the world, this isn’t just a trip — it’s a sacred homecoming.
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