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International
Pakistani Authorities Block Sikh Pilgrims' Flight to India Over Missing NOC
✍️ Amar Ujala · Amritsar
🗓 13 Sep 2026, 04:34 PM
👁 4
Sikh pilgrims with visas were denied boarding from Faisalabad airport on 10 September because they lacked a No Objection Certificate from Pakistani officials, forcing them back home.
On 10 September, Sikh pilgrims scheduled to travel from Faisalabad to Dubai and onward to Delhi were denied boarding at Faisalabad airport. They had valid visas but no No Objection Certificate (NOC) from Pakistani authorities.
The NOC is a mandatory document for Indian nationals traveling to India from Pakistan, issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs. Without it, airlines cannot allow passengers to board.
As a result, the pilgrims were turned back to their homes in Faisalabad. The incident highlights the strict travel protocols between the two countries and the challenges faced by religious pilgrims.
Pakistani officials have not released a statement on the matter, while Indian authorities have urged the pilgrims to seek assistance from the Indian embassy in Islamabad.
The NOC is a mandatory document for Indian nationals traveling to India from Pakistan, issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs. Without it, airlines cannot allow passengers to board.
As a result, the pilgrims were turned back to their homes in Faisalabad. The incident highlights the strict travel protocols between the two countries and the challenges faced by religious pilgrims.
Pakistani officials have not released a statement on the matter, while Indian authorities have urged the pilgrims to seek assistance from the Indian embassy in Islamabad.