ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani on Thursday said the government will encourage religious tourism to promote inter-faith harmony and build the country’’s image as a moderate state.

Talking to a delegation of Sikh Yatrees (pilgrims), the Prime Minister said the government was committed to protecting rights of minorities including Sikh community in the country.

The Prime Minister welcomed the Sikh Yatrees who are in town to pay homage to the founder of Sikhism Baba Guru Nanak on his birth anniversary and said every effort would be made to facilitate their stay in Pakistan.

He ensured the delegation the provision of full security at Gurdwaras so that the community could perform their religious obligations in peace.

Gilani said an Inter-faith Complex would soon be set up in the capital that would provide a platform for the people from different religions to mingle up and share views.

It would help create a balanced and tolerant society, he added.

He said the government was making concerted efforts for the renovation and uplifting of historical and significant Gurdwaras in the country.

He said Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhan Committee had already been reconstituted to provide every possible facility to Sikh Yatrees during their visits to Pakistan.

He mentioned that development schemes like construction of pre-fabricated huts, cemented rooms and Bara Daris at Gurdwara Janamsthan in Nankana Sahib and construction of Langar Halls at Gurdwara Punja Sahib in Hassanabdal had been completed.

The Prime Minister expressed satisfaction that Muslims and Sikhs in Pakistan were living in complete harmony.

He announced that he would lay the foundation of Baba Guru Nanak International University to be built at an area of 2,500 acres, by the month’’s end.

He said the government was considering to enhance the number of Sikh Yatrees to Pakistan and would provide more scholarships to the Sikh community living in SAARC countries.

The Sikh delegation thanked the Prime Minister for the arrangements to facilitate the pilgrims and provision of security at Gurdwaras.

They also raised the issue of relaxing visa regime for Sikh community.

The Sikh delegation included Chairman World Muslim Sikh Foundation Sardar Manmohan Singh (Khalsa Foundation UK), Coordinator American Sikh Gurdwara Perbandhak Committee USA Dr Pritpal Singh and Sardar Shamsher Singh from Jammu and Kashmir.

The government side was represented by Minister for Minorities Shahbaz Bhatti and MNA Araish Kumar.