Selangor, 16 August 2022 (TDI): The High Commissioner of Pakistan to Malaysia, Amna Baloch, visited the Central Gurdwara Petaling Jaya in Selangor, to promote inter-faith harmony.
The purpose of the visit was to normalize the relations between the communities of Sikhs and Muslims. She also invited the Malaysian Sikhs to visit and explore Pakistan.
HC Amna Baloch visited Central Gurdwara Pitaling Jaya to promote inter-faith harmony and spiritual tourism. She also extended invitation to the Sikh Community in Malaysia to visit and explore Pakistan.
🇵🇰🤝🇲🇾@FMPublicDiploPK @ForeignOfficePk pic.twitter.com/zRtn5c08nT— Pakistan High Commission Malaysia (@PakinMalaysia_) August 16, 2022
The Religion of Sikhism
Guru Nanak founded the religion of Sikhism in the 16th century. The majority of the population of Sikhs live in the state of Punjab in India. Gurdwara is the place of worship for Sikhs, the followers of the teachings of Guru Nanak.
Sikhism stresses the importance of doing good actions rather than merely carrying out rituals. Sikhs believe that the way to lead a good life is to keep God in heart and mind at all times.
Living honestly and working hard, treating everyone equally, generosity, and serving others are the key essentials of Sikhism.
Sikhism in Pakistan has an extensive heritage and history. Sikhs form a small community in Pakistan today and most of them live in the province of Punjab. The birthplace of Guru Nanak called Nankana Sahab is also in the Punjab province of Pakistan.
Moreover, the place where Guru Nanak Dev died, the Gurudwara Kartarpur Sahib is also located in the same province.
Recently, the Pakistani government has allowed Sikhs from India to make pilgrimages to their Gurdwaras in Pakistan. Pakistani Sikhs are also allowed to travel to India freely.
Pakistan-Malaysia bilateral ties
Pakistan and Malaysia established their diplomatic relations in 1957 after Malaysia’s independence. Malaysia and Pakistan have had a complicated relationship over the years, especially with regard to Kashmir and India.
In recent years, such diplomatic visits have improved the bilateral ties between the states. In 2018, Malaysia and Pakistan agreed to establish bilateral consultations between the two senior officials of their foreign affairs ministries.
The officials of both countries often pay visits to one another. Malaysia and Pakistan have also signed a free trade agreement called the Malaysia–Pakistan Closer Economic Partnership Agreement (MPCEPA).
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