AI Generated Summary
- He performed the traditional ardas (prayer), paid obeisance, and joined the congregation in the langar hall, sitting in pangat and sharing the communal meal in keeping with the Sikh principles of sangat and equality.
- If sense prevails, the authorities should immediately end all forms of persecution and discrimination against the Sikh minority, guarantee their full safety and equal rights, and launch a serious, sustained effort to restore every gurdwara and place of worship currently in dilapidated or ruined condition.
- This high-profile appearance at one of Sikhism’s most sacred sites stands out as a visible affirmation of interfaith respect and the enduring importance of preserving religious heritage.
World Bank President Ajay Pal Singh Banga, accompanied by his family, visited the revered Gurdwara Sri Panja Sahib in Hassan Abdal on the first day of his four-day trip to Pakistan.
Under heavy security, the World Bank leader was received at the shrine and participated fully in its religious observances. He performed the traditional ardas (prayer), paid obeisance, and joined the congregation in the langar hall, sitting in pangat and sharing the communal meal in keeping with the Sikh principles of sangat and equality.
The visit held deep personal and symbolic significance, given Banga’s Sikh heritage. The local Sikh community welcomed him warmly, presenting him with a religious symbol as a gesture of respect.
This high-profile appearance at one of Sikhism’s most sacred sites stands out as a visible affirmation of interfaith respect and the enduring importance of preserving religious heritage. It sends a clear global message that places of worship tied to minority faiths deserve protection and dignity.
Yet the reality on the ground remains starkly different for many in Pakistan’s Sikh community. Numerous historic gurdwaras and other Sikh places of worship lie in ruins, neglected for decades, while reports of discrimination, insecurity, and targeted incidents continue to surface. These conditions stand in direct contradiction to any claim of inclusivity or harmony.
Banga’s visit, with its display of open participation in Sikh rituals and respect for the faith, throws the contrast into sharp relief. It is no longer enough to offer symbolic gestures or brief moments of goodwill.
Pakistan must now act decisively. If sense prevails, the authorities should immediately end all forms of persecution and discrimination against the Sikh minority, guarantee their full safety and equal rights, and launch a serious, sustained effort to restore every gurdwara and place of worship currently in dilapidated or ruined condition.
Such concrete steps are essential not only to honor the country’s shared religious history but to demonstrate genuine commitment to protecting its religious minorities. Anything less would render high-profile visits like this one little more than fleeting photo opportunities.
