LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi said Friday the Punjab government is making strides to preserve the holy sites of Sikhs and provide better facilities to Sikh pilgrims.

Talking to a delegation of Sikh pilgrims headed by their leader Harvinder Sindh Sarna at the CM house, Elahi said the government is setting up an institute for the promotion of the Punjabi language and culture and also propagate the teachings of Sufis. He said people-to-people contact between Pakistan and India is increasing, which will help the ongoing peace process.

Elahi said the rehabilitation and construction of the road to Darbar Kartarpur, near Narowal, has been completed. Furthermore, the government is implementing a comprehensive programme to provide residential facilities to Sikh pilgrims at Nankana Sahib.

He hoped that the cultural and historic relationship between the two communities due to the common language will be strengthened in future. He said Islam teaches peace, tolerance and brotherhood and keeping the Islamic spirit in view, the present government is implementing a composite strategy to protect the minorities’ rights in the province.

Mr Elahi said the East Punjab chief minister’s recent visit helped improve relations between the two countries. He stressed joint efforts to eliminate poverty and backwardness from both countries. He said the direct people-to-people contact and exchange of delegations of journalists, lawyers and sportsmen has created a strong and positive impact on Indo-Pak ties.

Harvinder Singh Sarna said Ch Pervaiz Elahi has ensured better travel for Sikh Yatrees by constructing Darbar Kartarpur Road. He said the number of Sikhs Yatrees has increased manifold due to better facilities at Nankana Sahib.