The Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (or PSGPC)[a] is a Sikh religious organization in Pakistan.[2][3][4] PSGPC was formed by the Government of Pakistan and is entrusted with the maintenance of Sikh religious institutions, places of worships in Pakistan.[5][4] The body is headquarted at Gurdwara Dera Sahib in Lahore.[4]
Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) was created in 1920s by struggle of Sikhs. After 1947 partition of Punjab, all religious properties of Sikhs came under Evacuee Trust Property Board.[6] On 11 April 1999, Pakistan Sikh Gurudwara Parbandhak Committee was constituted under the ETPB chairmanship of ex-DG, ISI Lt. Gen. (Retd) Javed Nasir.[7][8]
Its main organization is based in Lahore in the province of Punjab with Gurdwara Dera Sahib its headquarter.[9]
The PSGPC is opposed by the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), which regards itself as the sole guardian of Sikh institutions and religion worldwide. The right to sole guardian is given to SGPC every 4 years in a fair elections in which Sikhs from around the world participate. Unlike SGPC in India, PSGPC is not an Independent fully Sikh-owned body and is controlled by Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB) of Pakistan.[10][11] Thirteen members are appointed by Government of Pakistan, and these then members elect the president and the secretary-general.[12][13]
This organization is entrusted with the maintenance of Sikh religious institutions, places of worships (gurdwara) and the well-being of the Pakistani Sikh community.[14] It works to bring back sacred relics belonging to Sikhism at gurdwaras.[15]
The body lists the following fourteen items as its functions:[4]
The current president of the body is Ramesh Singh Arora and Satwant Kaur is the general-secretary.[4]
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