The High Commission of Pakistan in New Delhi has granted 84 visas to Indian pilgrims to visit the sacred Shree Katas Raj Temples, also called Qila Katas, located in Punjab’s Chakwal district .
From December 19 to 25, the Indian Hindu pilgrims will visit the temples.
“@PakinIndia has issued 84 visas to a group of Indian Pilgrims for their visit to the sacred Shree Katas Raj Temples, also known as Qila Katas, in Chakwal district of Punjab scheduled to take place from 19-25 December 2024,” according to post by the Pakistan High Commission India on X on Tuesday.
Charge d’ Affaires, Saad Ahmad Warraich, Addressing the occasion, extended his wishes to the pilgrims for a spiritually rewarding yatra and a fulfilling journey.
In the previous year, the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi granted 112 visas to Indian Hindu’s pilgrims for a visit to the Shree Katas Raj Temples.
Katas Raj is regarded as one of the holiest sites for the Hindus in Pakistan. The temple complex surrounds a pond named Katas — which is considered as sacred by the devotees.
As per the Pakistan-India Protocol on Visits to Religious Shrines of 1974, thousands of Sikh and Hindu pilgrims from India visit Pakistan every year to participate in several religious festivals and events, according to the statement.
The issuance of pilgrimage visas to them is consistent with the Pakistani government’s efforts to facilitate acces to religious shrines and encourage interfaith harmony.