NAROWAL: The Punjab government has reclaimed 8 kanals and 18 marlas of land belonging to Gurdwara Babey Di Beri, which had been illegally occupied for three decades. Federal Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif handed over the possession of the recovered land to the Gurdwara administration and said that he would try to get the remaining property reclaimed, including its historic pond.

Speaking at a ceremony in Sialkot, Mr Asif, alongside Provincial Minister for Minority Affairs Sardar Ramesh Singh Arora, distributed Minority Cards to 1,547 non-Muslim households under the Punjab government`s initiative led by Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz. The minister praised the scheme, saying that the government was committed to ensuring equal rights for religious minorities. He added that a healthy society must be inclusive, where minorities enjoy the same, if not greater, rights as the majority.

Mr Asif highlighted the rich history of religious coexistence in Sialkot, where Christians, Hindus, and Sikhs have lived peacefully since Pakistan`s creation. He said that while only 10 Sikhs remained in the city after 1947, their numbers have now exceeded 100 due to supportive policies.

He invited Sikh pilgrims worldwide to visit Sialkot and witness the government`s commitment to minority rights.