World Bank Survey Needs Sikh Opinion on Pakistan

The World Bank and Gallup Poll have teamed up to get information on Sikh Cultural Sites in Pakistan to evaluate the interest among the international Sikh community.

While Sikhs want greater access and seek sewa opportunities at Pakistan's gurdwaras, the number of Sikhs that actually are able to access the religious sites is low, for various reasons. A new, World Bank-backed survey will help facilitate Sikh tourism, and possibly bring investment to improve access and facilities in these areas. The research will allow Sikhs to have a fulfilling experience and promote pilgrimage among the masses from all over the world. Many Sikhs have never seen or visited sites such as Guru Nanak's birthplace, Nankana Sahib or Kartarpur, where Guru Nanak lived during his last years. The World Bank-backed research will help to discover obstacles in tourism to these significant locations. Your input is necessary to this research.

EcoSikh has recently visited these religiously significant places in Pakistan and has proposed plans from an environmental angle. We are in communication with the Punjab government and various governmental bodies who are interested in improving the environmental surroundings and ecology of Sikh places as part of the celebration of the 550th anniversary of Guru Nanak's birth in 2019. EcoSikh hopes that these projects can come to fruition with the help of international agencies and Pakistan's government. The Sikh diaspora has an important role to shape the future of these places. That is the reason why Sikh opinions are needed to collect information and have a positive impact in this research.

Please take a moment to share your response on questions that will help Sikhs to visit these historic cultural and religious sites.

Thank you!