Project Management Unit to be set up for gurdwara at Kartarpur

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Sun, 11 Oct, 2020|6:57 PM

 

 

 

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Project Management Unit to be set up for gurdwara at Kartarpur

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Internews/Lahore

Saturday، 10 October 2020 11:59 PM

 

The government of Pakistan has decided to set up Project Management Unit (PMU) for management and maintenance of Gurdwara Darbar Sahib Kartarpur (GDSK) constructed and outsourced by Frontier Works Organization (FWO), official sources revealed yesterday.
The ETPB functions under Evacuee Trust Properties (Management and Disposal) Act No. XIII of 1975 and the schemes made thereunder. The present government decided to open the Corridor with Gurdwara Darbar Sahib Kartarpur with lead role to ETPB.
The Government of Pakistan spent Rs16.280 billion on development of the Gurdwara. The project was formally approved under the Prime Minister’s directive given on March 19, 2019.
Kartarpur Sahib Corridor was inaugurated by the prime minister on November 9, 2019, coinciding with 550 birthday anniversary of Baba Guru Nanak Dev, founder of Sikh religion.
As per bilateral agreement between Pakistan and India held on October 24, 2019, 5000 Sikh pilgrims are allowed to visit GDSK through corridor, while local Pakistanis are also visiting the DKC in considerable numbers.
Every yatree deposits $20 as “service charges” on arrival from Indian side which is credited into Federal Consolidated Fund.
From November 2019 to March 2020, 63,000 (63,000x$20-$1,260,000) yatrees from India visited the Gurdwara. Visitors from Pakistani side pay Rs200 per head as “service charges” to Global Nobal Company (FWO).
From November 2019 to March 2020, 422,000 (422,000 x Rs200 - Rs84,400,000) locals from within Pakistan visited the Gurdwara.
Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony argues that after remodelling the GDSK, it has become a huge complex and not easy to manage, as thousands of locals visit the complex on a daily basis.
ETPB has made interim arrangements but existing staff is not sufficient to manage the affairs of Gurdwara including day to day operation of the Corridor. Therefore, regular, well trained and equipped staff is required to maintain and manage the project.
The sources said, ETPB proposed that Project Management Unit should be established to run its management and to streamline the religious activities inside the Gurdwara Kartarpur Sahib and take its lead role by extending coordination with other agencies working in GDSK.
The Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony further noted that the Establishment Division (MS Wing) had agreed/recommended creation of 162 posts for PMU, however, Finance Division agreed to the creation of 126 posts for PMU. ETPB had proposed a Business Plan for the creation and self-financing of the PMU.
The Ministry of RA and IFH sanctioned following business plan for establishment/self-financing of Project Management Unit to run the affairs of Gurdwara Kartarpur Sahib Corridor under the supervision of ETPB advice: (i) Business Plan to create PMU at Gurdwara Darbar Sahib Kartarpur along with creation of 126 posts and recurring budget and other costs to make PMU a self-financing body under the administrative control of ETPB.
PMU/ETPB would be allowed to collect fees/rents and utilise the funds from local visitor’s service charges, rent of shops, parking fees and cultural activities, according to Sikh traditions.
The ministry requested that an estimated amount of Rs90,300 million collected by the Global Nobel/FWO from service charges of Pakistani visitors and rent of shops may be allowed to be transferred to PMU on its creation to meet its immediate expenses.
The Operation and Maintenance works for an initial period of two years, i.e. from Nov-2019 to Oct-2021 is being carried out by M/s Global Nobal Company outsourced by FWO. It will continue to be carried out under the supervision of PMU until Oct-2021, as the amount for this purpose has already been paid to FWO.
The scheme for the management and disposal of Urban Evacuee Trust Properties, 1977 also empowers renting, leasing and its development. All rents, profit, income and other amounts received/realised would also be part of trust pool.
This would be collected in PMU budget and may be spent on PMU as per the forward plan.

https://m.gulf-times.com/story/675040/Project-Management-Unit-to-be-set-up-for-gurdwara-at-Kartarpur

[jkvlondon]

and other news gurdwara land has been signed off to waqf board , who will be making decisions over it instead of the sikhs , then people will be complaining later on when they will sell off the land to other interests

[chatanga1]

33 minutes ago, jkvlondon said:

and other news gurdwara land has been signed off to waqf board , who will be making decisions over it instead of the sikhs , then people will be complaining later on when they will sell off the land to other interests

This gurdwara along with the other 300 or so are already in control of the Waqf Board.

I find it incredible to beleive that Pakistan has spent Rs16.280 billion on this Gurdwara, considering that they can't even feed all their own people. This equates to £76,272,824 at todays conversion rates. £76 million??? I doubt it. No Government would spend that on a mosque nevermind a gurdwara.

 

But two things are important to remember here for Sikhs. One, the lands of the Gurdwaras have generated huge amounts which the Waqf Board have, and have been misusing and appropriating for themselves. Why couldn't this money have been used for the renovation?

Secondly, whilst there is only a handful of Sikhs there in kartarpur, they should have had the first refusal on the jobs created for management. Why are non-Sikhs being given these positions, and why aren't Sikhs pushing themselves for priority?

[jkvlondon]

21 minutes ago, chatanga1 said:

This gurdwara along with the other 300 or so are already in control of the Waqf Board.

I find it incredible to beleive that Pakistan has spent Rs16.280 billion on this Gurdwara, considering that they can't even feed all their own people. This equates to £76,272,824 at todays conversion rates. £76 million??? I doubt it. No Government would spend that on a mosque nevermind a gurdwara.

 

But two things are important to remember here for Sikhs. One, the lands of the Gurdwaras have generated huge amounts which the Waqf Board have, and have been misusing and appropriating for themselves. Why couldn't this money have been used for the renovation?

Secondly, whilst there is only a handful of Sikhs there in kartarpur, they should have had the first refusal on the jobs created for management. Why are non-Sikhs being given these positions, and why aren't Sikhs pushing themselves for priority?

we know what the story is wool being pulled over eyes to dissuade outside sikhs to think rosy thoughts about a government that maintains laws which are a direct cause of our children being kidnapped and comverted , our daughters being forced to live with their rapists and parents to have no real voice or standing in law  or society to force the return of their children .