Wednesday, August 17 2005 16:42 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: India proposes to open more pilgrim centers in the country for Pakistani nationals and there is a proposal to hold a Film Festival of that country in New Delhi, Government told the Lok Sabha today (Aug 17,2005).

In a written reply, Minister of State for External Affairs E Ahamed said the two countries at the Culture Secretary-level talks on July 26-27 agreed to expand the 'Protocol on Visits to Religious Shrines 1974' to increase the number of shrines in both countries as also the number of pilgrims.

At present, Pakistani pilgrims are permitted to visit five pilgrim centers in India, which are Hazrat Khwaja Moinuddin Chisti (Ajmer), Hazrat Mujaddid Alf Sani (Sirhand), Hazrat Khwaja Allauddin Ali Ahmad Sabri (Kalyar), Hazrat Amir Khusro and Hazrat Nizamuddin Aulia (Delhi), he said.

As a measure to increase people-to-people contact between the two countries, India has been allowing additional pilgrim places outside the protocol, Ahamed said.

To another question, the minister said there is a proposal to hold a Pakistani Film Festival in India, which is to be finalized by mutual consultation.