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PSGPC needs to pull up its act,
working hampered
WSN Network
LAHORE: Lack of
Sikh leaderships in Pakistani gurdwaras is adversely affecting
charity donations from Sikh philanthropists who come here from
across the world, Pakistan's Daily Times reported on Sunday.
While the
Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Parbhandak Committee (PSGPC), established in
2000 represents the Sikh community in Pakistan and looks after the
gurdwaras in Pakistan, its inner affairs have been hampering the
work.
The PSGPC has
had three presidents since it was established: Sardar Sham Singh,
Mastan Singh and Sardar Bishon Singh.
Each president
has an allotted tenure of three years, but except for Sardar Bishon
Singh, no president has completed his tenure. Bishon completed his
tenure on December 31, 2007. The federal government, however,
extended his tenure for four months for the Baisakhi Mela.
Of the four
major Sikh events that were to be handled by the PSGPC in an
agreement between Pakistan and India, only the birthday of Baba Guru
Nanak in November and the Baisakhi Mela in April was organised by
the PSGPC. The anniversary of Maharaja Ranjit Singh and the death
anniversary of Guru Arjan Dev Ji in June were not planned with any
assistance from the PSGPC or the Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB).
The Sikhs gathered and organised whatever they could themselves for
these two events. ETPB officials claim that Sikh philanthropists
have been reluctant to donate funds because of the absence of the
PSGPC in the organisation of these events.
A Sikh donor
from Canada said that he often donated large sums of money for the
gurdwaras in Pakistan but for the last three events he has not made
any donations for them because of the absence of the PSGPC.
Now, it seems a
file about the formation of the PSGPC committee has been presented
to Prime Minster Yousuf Raza Gilani.
24 September 2008
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