|
Cheaper rupee gives Sikhs more
spending money
WSN Network
LAHORE: This
year’s visit to Pakistan for several Sikh pilgrims will be different
from their usual trips, as they have come with the intention to
spend all the money they have brought to support Pakistan’s economy.
The devaluation
of the Pakistani rupee has provided Sikh pilgrims more Pakistani
rupees in exchange for their country’s currency. “We cannot see
Pakistan’s economy in such a state, so we have brought double the
amount we usually do with us to spend it at various markets,” said
Indian Sikh pilgrims after arriving at Wagah on Tuesday to
participate in Baba Guru Nanak’s 540th birth anniversary. Around
4,100 Sikh pilgrims have arrived from
India. However,
the agreement between Pakistan and India (Liaqat Nehru pact) was of
3,000 pilgrims. The Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB) officials
received the pilgrims, as the Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Parbhandak
Committee (PSGPC) dissolved on
December 31,
2007.
According to Indian Sikhs pilgrims, they have brought Rs 30,000 each
for this ritual, adding that the rich Indian Sikhs have brought
$3,000 (Rs 240,000) each to Pakistan.
GB Hospital
Director Dr GB Singh said that he was shocked to receive Pakistani
Rs 1,800 for Indian Rs 1,000. He said that he has brought $4,000
with him to purchase clothes, dry fruits, etc. “I will spend all my
money to show my support for
Pakistan,” he
said. Shiromani Gurdawara Prabhandhak Committee (SGPC) party leader
Sardar Gurbachan Singh said that 2,700 pilgrims arrived from the
SGPC platform. He said that the pilgrims were ambitious to help
their Pakistani brothers, adding that visa restrictions should not
be as strict as they currently are to facilitate residents of both
countries.
Around 350
pilgrims arrived in Lahore from the Bhai Merdana Society; 350 from
the Nankana Sahib Yatra Committee; 160 from the Shiromani Khalisa
Panchait, under the leadership of Gurdeeb Singh; while the others
belong to various other Sikh groups. Jasbeer Singh said that he had
sold his rice crop, adding that he intended to go shopping with his
family and friends in the city’s markets.
12 November
2008
|
Read Also