Colleges to be set up in Nankana Sahib

Jalandhar, Sep 29 (UNI) Sikh pilgrim town of Nankana Sahib, the birth place of Guru Nanak Dev, in Shekhupura district of Pakistan, will soon have a university, a medical college and an engineering college.

This announcement was made by Pakistan waqt Board Chairman Lt Gen (Rtd) Zulfkar Ali at a religious function held at the Gurdwara Kartarpur (Rabi) Sahib, situated in Narowal district of Pakistan, earlier this week, senior Akali leader and former Punjab MLA Kuldip Singh Wadala told UNI here today.

Mr Wadala, who was in Pakistan with a 200 member delegation of Sikh pilgrims, said that Lt Gen Ali had announced that the proposed university, to be named Guru Nanak Dev Punjabi Univeristy, would come up in an area measuring about 750 acres. the work is expected to begin in January next year.

A medical college and engineering college would also be part of this project, Mr Wadala said.

The proposed university besides conducting various regular courses would also ensure propagation of Punjabi language and culture, he added.

Likewise, the Pakistan Government had also undertaken a number of steps for stepping up development around historic Sikh shrines.

These included construction of modern three-star star hotels at Nankana Sahib, Punjab Sahib and Dera Sahib.

Mr Wadala and Sikh pilgrim jatha had left for Pakistan from the Wagah on September 18. During their nine day sojourn, the pilgrims visited various shrines including Nankana Sahib, Punja Sahib, Dera Sahib, Gurdwara Sachcha Saudha and the memorial(tomb) of Baba Farid.

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