Pakistan has declared as a 'model city' the huge estate housing the Gurudwara Nankana Sahib, the birthplace of Guru Nanak.

The declaration, made by Pakistan's Punjab province Chief Minister Pervaiz Elahi on Friday, coincided with the 535th birth anniversary of the founder of Sikhism.

Over 15,000 Sikhs from India and abroad had congregated at the gurudwara to celebrate the occasion.

Elahi said the government would construct a dual carriageway and expressway from Wagah to Nankana Sahib and provide water and sewerage systems to the city. He also announced Rs 20 million for the construction of a hospital, a function hall, restaurant and a motel.

Foreign investors will be invited to invest in Nankana Sahib to make it a modern city, the media quoted him as saying on Saturday.

Elahi also said the Pakistan government is ready to give any number of visas to Sikh yatrees.

He said Pakistan is ready to start a bus service between Lahore and Amritsar if India permits. The service will facilitate to visit the holy place more frequently, he said. He said he would take up the matter during his forthcoming visit to Indian Punjab on an invitation of the state government.