Historic Gurdwara of Sixth Sikh Guru Shri Hargobind Sahib reopens in Pakistan after 79 years; Only 37 of 1817 Hindu, Sikh shrines functional

Lahore: The historic Gurdwara Chhevin Patshahi Sri Guru Hargobind Sahib in Lahore, Pakistan, has been reopened for devotees after remaining closed for 79 years since the Partition of 1947.

 

The gurdwara, associated with the sixth Sikh Guru, Sri Guru Hargobind Sahib, was reopened on November 8 after restoration work. The ceremony was attended by members of the Sikh community and Pakistani officials.

 

Shri Hargobind Sahib, the sixth Sikh Guru, is remembered as a warrior saint who strengthened the Sikh community to stand against religious oppression.

 

However, the reopening has also brought attention to the condition of hundreds of Hindu temples and Sikh gurdwaras across Pakistan, many of which remain closed, abandoned or in poor condition.

 

According to figures presented before Pakistan's Parliamentary Committee on Minority Caucus in December 2025, the country has 1285 Hindu places of worship and 532 Sikh gurdwaras, taking the total to 1817. However, only 37 of these religious sites are currently functional.

 

This means around 1780 Hindu and Sikh places of worship remain non-functional, raising questions about their maintenance and protection by the Pakistani authorities.

 

The issue was also discussed during the parliamentary committee meeting, where concerns were raised over the poor maintenance of minority religious sites and the need to restore them.

 

While the reopening of the historic shrine after 79 years is a significant development, the condition of hundreds of other Hindu and Sikh religious sites continues to raise serious concerns over the protection of minority religious heritage in Pakistan.