British Sikh property tycoon plans trust for gurdwaras in Pakistan

Saturday, 15/06/2019

http://paper.hindustantimes.com/epaper/viewer.aspx

LONDON :A British Sikh property tycoon is leading plans for a new trust for gurdwaras in Pakistan to facilitate religious tourism and preservation projects through the Kartarpur Corridor, planned on either side of the India-Pakistan border.

Peter Virdee, founder of London-based B&S Property, said including the as-yet-undisclosed pledge of his own Virdee Foundation and business people from around the world as much as 500 million pounds (₹4,400 crore) would be available for the trust, which will be named after Guru Nanak.

“I feel humbled and blessed to have a chance for this sewa (voluntary service). The plans are in motion and a delegation will be meeting the Indian and Pakistani governments in the coming weeks and months to take this plan forward,” Virdee said.

Asked if the India-Pakistan political tensions could prove a hurdle, he said: “This is a purely religious initiative and nothing to do with politics. It is crucial that we do not mix religion and politics. Many of the Sikh holy shrines are located in Pakistan and it is important that we get together and preserve them.”

The plans for the new trust, which will be registered and monitored in the UK, were formalised during a meeting of the Central Gurdwara Khalsa Jatha in London earlier this week. Virdee and other British Sikhs held talks with Sayed Zulfiqar Bukhari, chairman of the Pakistan Tourism Board and special assistant to the Pakistan Prime Minister, on issues of importance to the Sikh community based in the UK.

Earlier this week, the Pakistan government announced ₹100 crore in the federal budget for 2019-20 for the development of the Kartarpur Corridor, which will connect Darbar Sahib in Pakistan’s Kartarpur with the Dera Baba Nanak shrine in India’s Gurdaspur as part of Guru Nanak’s 550th birth anniversary celebrations.

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