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Islamabad, The Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony conducted a draw in Islamabad to select participants for the Urs of Hazrat Mujaddid Alf-Thani in India. This event reflects the ongoing religious and cultural exchanges between Pakistan and India, allowing devotees to visit significant spiritual sites under a longstanding bilateral agreement.
According to Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, around 400 applications were submitted nationwide, with two hundred Zaireen (pilgrims) chosen based on a provincial quota. The selection process was part of the Ministry’s efforts to facilitate religious pilgrimages to India, honoring the 1974 agreement that enables Pakistani devotees to visit the shrines of six Sufi saints in the neighboring country.
The results of the draw are accessible on the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony’s website, with successful applicants also receiving notifications via SMS. The next steps for the selected Zaireen include completing an online visa application form for India and submitting their passports to the Ministry, ensuring a coordinated and smooth pilgrimage process.
This initiative underscores the significance of religious tourism and interfaith harmony between Pakistan and India, fostering a sense of spiritual connection and mutual respect through the shared veneration of Sufi saints.