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Around 200 Indian Sikh pilgrims crossed into Pakistan on foot viathe Wagah land border on Saturday after a mix-up prevented themfrom travelling across the frontier by train, officials said. The Sikhs, during their nine-day stay in Pakistan, will participatein the ‘Jore Mela,' held every year at Gurdwara Dera Shahibin Lahore to mark the martyrdom of Guru Arjun Dev. Some 500 Indian pilgrims were unable to travel by rail after Indianauthorities refused to receive a train sent by Pakistan Railways,Pakistani officials said. However, Indian officials told PTI that amix-up had occurred due to a "communication gap." Thepilgrims were subsequently given permission to cross the border onfoot, they said. Fraz Abbas, Deputy Director of the Evacuee Property Trust Board(EPTB) that is responsible for maintaining shrines of minoritycommunities, said, "The Indian authorities had not told usabout not their allowing the ‘yatris' to board the Pakistanitrain." Kirak Singh, who arrived from Amritsar, said the pilgrims hadwaited at the Attari and Amritsar stations for several hours onFriday to be allowed to depart for Lahore. "At 5 p.m. we weretold to go home as we were to travel to Lahore on Saturday."He said the pilgrims had protested at the two stations. The Indian Sikhs urged the governments of India and Pakistan tomake "hassle-free arrangements" for pilgrims. The ETPB also said the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, therepresentative body of Indian Sikhs, had not informed it of someamendments it made in its annual calendar of events in Pakistan. An ETPB official said: "We follow the Nanak Shahi calendar,which is recognised by the two countries as well as other countrieswhere Sikhs are living. Under this calendar as well as bilateralprotocol, we had informed the Indian government of arrangements andthe arrival of yatris. "We also asked the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi toissue visas to those intending to participate in Jore Mela." The ETPB has made free food, security, transport and lodgingarrangements for the pilgrims. Under an agreement signed by New Delhi and Islamabad in 1955, atotal of 1,000 pilgrims can visit Pakistan to attend Jore Melaevery year. We are high quality suppliers, our products such as Biological Safety Cabinet Manufacturer , China Fire Resistant Safes for oversee buyer. To know more, please visits Corrosive Storage Cabinet.
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