Pakistan's High Commissioner to India Sohail Mahmood has stressed upon implementing the bilateral 1974 Protocol between India and Pakistan on Visits to Religious Shrines.

In an interview with Tribune India daily, he said Pakistan made assiduous efforts to preserve religious sites and facilitate visits of people of all faiths. 

Referring to the recent visit of the Sikh Yatrees to Pakistan, he said it was consistent with the government's commitment and in accordance with provisions of the 1974 Protocol on visits to religious shrines.

Over 20,000 Sikh pilgrims from across the globe were expected to attend the Baisakhi festival with the main celebrations in Gurdawara Panja Sahib in Hassanabdal. 

Emphasizing upon the faithful implementation of the bilateral protocol the high commissioner said the people from different faiths usually wait and prepare for their religious journeys throughout the year.

He regretted that Pakistani Zaireens were not issued visas to participate in the Urs at Ajmer Sharif and Nizamuddin Auliya in the recent months and it is an open violation of bilateral 1974 Protocol.