Chandigarh | Updated: July 2, 2026
A historic 125-year-old Gurdwara Singh Sabha in Pakistan’s Punjab province has allegedly been demolished without official approval, triggering protests from the Sikh community.
The gurdwara is located in Farooqabad, around 70 km from Lahore. According to a Punjab government official, a local businessman allegedly demolished the structure without obtaining the mandatory No Objection Certificate from the concerned department.
The matter came to the government’s notice after members of the Sikh community staged protests over the demolition.
Following the protests, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz directed authorities to examine the matter and take necessary action.
Punjab Minorities Minister Ramesh Singh Arora visited the site on Wednesday along with senior district officials, including the deputy commissioner of Sheikhupura, representatives of the Auqaf Department, and local administration officials.
After inspecting the site and meeting members of the Sikh community, Arora announced that the historic gurdwara would be restored immediately.
According to preliminary information shared by the Auqaf Department, the demolition was carried out without the required permission. The minister also ordered an inquiry into the ownership and legal status of the land.
Officials said initial findings suggested that the property was not registered as Auqaf land.
Arora said he personally inspected the site and directed the concerned authorities to submit a fact-based report at the earliest.
He reiterated that the Punjab government was committed to protecting the rights of religious minorities and preserving historic places of worship. He said restoration work on Gurdwara Singh Sabha would begin immediately.
However, the proposed restoration has drawn objections from local traders operating around the site. Traders claimed that the premises had remained abandoned for nearly eight decades and that several families had settled there while many shops had also come up in the area.
They urged the government to provide alternative housing and livelihood support to families and shopkeepers who may be displaced during the restoration process.
The incident has raised serious concerns among Sikhs over the preservation of historic Sikh religious sites in Pakistan. The provincial government has assured action against unauthorized demolition and pledged to restore the shrine.
