Pakistan government has ordered Indian Sikh pilgrims to bring US dollars. The Pakistan government through the country's Gurudwara Management Committee (PSGPC) reiterated this call to Indian pilgrims to overcome the foreign exchange crisis.
On the occasion of the birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev, 'Prakash Purab' will start in Pakistan from November 14. Pilgrims for this yatra have been instructed to bring dollars instead of Indian rupees.
Times of India reported this news in a report.
According to reports, PSGPC President Ramesh Singh Arora gave this message after the Shiromani Gurudwara Management Committee of India confirmed the journey of Indian pilgrims to Pakistan. As a result, many Indian pilgrims now have trouble raising the dollars needed for the trip, as Pakistan usually issues visas a day before departure and many applicants do not receive visas.
Pilgrims may find it difficult to raise dollars in advance as journeys are not guaranteed. Pilgrims may have more trouble collecting dollars if there is no currency exchange facility at the Attari border.
Jagjit Singh Bhullar of India's Bhai Mardana Yadgiri Kirtan Darbar Society has applied for Pakistani visas for over 800 pilgrims. He said, 'Pilgrims have to face many problems while collecting dollars. How to collect dollars when visa is not guaranteed? Visas are issued a day before departure, many will struggle to get dollars in such short time. Pilgrims will benefit if government arranges currency exchange at Attari border.'
On the other hand, PSGPC president Ramesh Singh Arora said that Indian pilgrims have been advised to bring international currency (dollars) with them after complaints were raised about the exchange rate of Indian currency during the previous visit.
According to sources, some money changers in Pakistan set exchange rates at will, resulting in financial losses for Indian pilgrims.
On an average, Indian pilgrims are supposed to get around 3,300 Pakistani rupees for every 1,000 rupees, but Pakistani money changers give 2,600 to 2,800 rupees. Now that the Pakistani government is talking about bringing in dollars, exchangers may pay even less—2,500 Pakistani rupees. Pilgrims may suffer financially.
Jagjit said that the best solution would be to have a currency exchange system at the Attari border to reduce the harassment and loss of the pilgrims.
