Work in progress at the Kartarpur Corridor. PHOTO: FOREIGN OFFICE
The governor assured Pakistan would complete and formally inaugurate the Kartarpur corridor by November — with or without India. “We will not compromise on the rights of minorities who are residing in Pakistan. It is a safe country for minorities,” he maintained.
Presiding over a Religious Tourism and Heritage committee meeting on Wednesday, the governor of Punjab said the decision has been taken to finalise the visa-issuance process for Sikh pilgrims from India and around the world. It will ensure they are able to attend the 550th birth anniversary of Baba Guru Nanak Devji in Nankana Sab before September 30th.
The meeting was attended by Federal Interior Minister Brigadier (retd) Ijaz Shah, Provincial Minister Makhdoom Hashim Jawan Bakht, Peer Syed Saeed ul Hassan, Provincial Minister for Minorities Ejaz Alam, MPA Sardar Mahindar Pal Singh, Principal Secretary to Governor Punjab Babar Hayat Tarrar, TEVTA Chairman Ali Salman, Evacuee Trust Board Chairman, Secretary Finance, DG Wall City of Lahore Authority Kamran Lashari, DC Nankana Saab and concerned officers of relevant departments.
Arrangements for the International Sikh Convention have been finalised and it is to be held at the Punjab Governor House on August 31. Strategy and plan of action for Kartarput corridor project and 550th birthday celebrations of Guru Nanak's birthday were decided in the meeting.
It was said that a special shuttle service would be launched from the railway station to Janam Ashtan for the 550th birthday celebrations at Nankana Saab. Directions were issued to ensure all necessary arrangements for the timely completion of the Kartarpur Corridor project.
Attendees of the meeting were briefed about the International Sikh Convention which is to take place at the Governor House on 31st August. Accommodation, security arrangements and food for Sikh Pilgrims as well as development work progress on the Kartarpur corridor project were also discussed.
After the meeting, Sarwar said the visa process for Sikh pilgrims who are willing to attend the 550th birthday celebrations of Baba Guru Nanak will start from September 1 and will be completed by September 30. The pilgrims will be provided with accommodation, foolproof security and other facilities. A tent city is to be established at Nankana Saab on which work will be initiated from the start of September.
For completion of the road from Sucha Souda to Nanka Saab, funds have been approved by the Punjab government and work will begin on it very soon, the governor highlighted.
Talking about the International Sikh convention, Sarwar said a huge number of Sikh pilgrims will arrive from the UK, USA, and other countries to attend the convention at the Punjab Governor House. He said suggestions for the Kartarpur Corridor and birthday celebrations would be pitched by Sikh pilgrims.
“The pilgrims, who are visiting Pakistan, will be facilitated in every way including the issuance of visas. Punjab and the federal government are working in coordination.”
Federal Minister for Interior Brigadier (retd) Ijaz Shah expressed that Prime Minister Imran Khan's Kartarpur Corridor project is a historical project and through this project, we have won hearts of Sikhs residing all over the world.
Promotion of tourism at religious places is included in government priorities. “We will try our best to ensure that arrangements at religious places will facilitate pilgrims and promote a softer image of Pakistan to the outside world,” the governor concluded.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 29th, 2019.
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