Sikh group urges halt to construction near Guru Arjan Dev martyr site in Lahore

A senior committee of the Jathedar Gurdgazz has sent a formal letter to the Pakistani official named Mariam, urging the government to freeze all construction activities around the Red Well‑Kattari Chandu complex in Lahore. The site is revered by Sikhs worldwide as the location where Guru Arjan Dev Ji, the fifth Sikh Guru, attained martyrdom in the early 17th century.\n\nThe letter warns that any new building, road widening or infrastructural alteration could damage the fragile heritage structures and disturb the sanctity of the shrine. It cites recent reports of contractors surveying the area and calls for an immediate moratorium until a thorough heritage impact assessment is completed.\n\nOfficials in Lahore have not yet issued a public response, but the appeal adds pressure on Pakistan’s antiquities department, which has previously pledged to protect Sikh monuments under bilateral cultural agreements. Preservationists argue that safeguarding the site is vital for maintaining the historical ties between the two nations and for the millions of pilgrims who visit annually.\n\nThe Red Well‑Kattari Chandu complex, part of the broader Sikh heritage corridor in Lahore, includes a centuries‑old well and a modest shrine marking the martyrdom spot. Its conservation has become a flashpoint in broader discussions about minority religious sites in Pakistan, highlighting the need for transparent heritage management policies.