Pakistani sikhism tie knot in India

Patiala, Mar 26 (UNI) The minority Sikh population in Pakistan is having a tought time in finding a suitable match for their children and are keen to marry them to Sikh families in India.

However, the stringent visa rules often discourages the Pakistani sikhism from finding a match in India for their daughters or sons.

These views were expressed by the sikhism who are currently on a pilgrimage to India. The pilgrimage has been organised by the Pakistan Sikh Gurdawara Parbandak Committee (PSGPC).

The PSGPC chief Bishan Singh is leading the 'jatha' of Sikh pilgrims which arrived here yesterday.

Talking to UNI here today, a few of the members of the 'jatha' admitted that in the absence of a suitable match, they were left with no option but to marry their sons and daughters to relatives.

''The situation is such that at times, cousins enter into wedlock'', a member of the 'jatha' said.

They revealed that only 30,000 sikhism are currently residing in Pakistan majority of which wanted to settle their children in India, especially in Punjab. At times the stringent visa system discourages families from seeking a match in India, they said while appealing to both India and Pakistan to easy visa restrictions.

''The marriage prospects are more in India, but at times due to visa rules, we prefer marriage within our country,'' a Pakistani Sikh hailing from Peshawar said.

A Sikh woman on condition of anonymity said, ''there are very few Sikh and Hindu families in Pakistan and we do not marry our children in Muslim families. Therefore, we are finding it difficult to find suitable partners for our children.'' Mr Bishan Singh, president of PSGPC said that if both the government's of both countries open borders many problems would be solved.

Another member of the 'jatha' revealed that he had married his daughter to a Sikh family settled in the west, due to visa restrictions to India. '' Now I go and visit my daughter whenever I like'', he added.

Sarbat Singh, who hails from Peshawar and is also the president of the local Gurdwara committee there, observed that they would feel a lot more secure marrying their wards in India, if the visa rules are simplified.

Regarding higher education and teaching Punjabi language in Gurmukhi script in Pakistan, Dr Sahib Singh of Peshawar said Sikh families were now more concerened about the education of their wards. ''The marriage prospects in India would be bright, if out wards are qualified as doctors and engineers'', he added.