AMRITSAR SAHIB, Punjab—Representatives of Pakistan government have reportedly shown interest in green projects proposed by US based Sikh body EcoSikh for Pakistan based Sikh shrines including Gurdwara Nankana Sahib and Gurdwara Kartarpur Sahib (Narowal) in wake of the 550th birth anniversary celebrations in 2019 of Guru Nanak Sahib, founder of Sikh religion.
Guru Nanak Sahib was born in Nankana Sahib and he spent over 17 years at Kartarpur.
Dr Rajwant Singh, president of EcoSikh said they had made the proposal for the projects. He recently visited Nankana Sahib and Kartarpur Sahib to explore what actions would be needed to preserve the ecology of these sites. He was invited by the first Sikh member of Pakistan’s Punjab Assembly Ramesh Singh Arora, who facilitated all the meetings with Pak official including Federal Minister of Planning Development and Reform Ahsan Iqbal of Narowal and Evacuee Trust Property Board’s (Auqaaf) secretary Khalid Ali.
The Sikh environmentalist discussed with the minister the possibility of far-reaching environmental plans and latter reportedly gave good response of forming a direction-finding committee to chalk out the plans.
The Sikh body has proposed that 25 to 50 acres of land at Nankana Sahib and at Kartarpur be declared as sacred forest in order to conserve bio-diversity around these places. The plans include solar panels, creating organic farmland for langar, dedicating sacred forest areas and creating an ethos of care for the environment among local faith leaders, local communities and thousands of pilgrims. Besides, organic farming would also be plasticized to supply organic food for ‘langar’ for which around five or 10 acres would be devoted.
Khalid Ali too extended his support to go for a green master plan.