ATTOCK – The Sikh community living across the world lauds Prime MinisterImran Khan for his initiative of opening Kartarpur Corridor, paving way forIndian pilgrims to visit the Baba Guru Nanak Gurdwara in district Narowalnear Indian border”.
Talking to media at the residence of Chairman Public Accounts CommitteeSyed Yawar Bokhari, Provincial Parliamentary Secretary Punjab SardarMahendar Paal Singh said that Kartarpur Corridor- which was thelongstanding desire of the community globally for the last seventy years,especially from India particularly in view of 550th Birth Anniversary ofBaba Guru Nanak which would be observed on November 6.
He was accompanied by Member Sikh Gurdwara Parbhandak Committee andChairman Baba Gurunanak Welfare Society Sardar Bishan Singh and SardarSantok Singh.
Talking about government s recent initiatives regarding promotion ofreligious tourism especially visa facilitation, online visas and visas onarrival, Mr Singh has said that this initiative would benefit tens ofthousands of Sikh pilgrims every year and promote interfaith harmony.
He also lauded the government s decision to allow double entry visafacility to 10,000 Sikh pilgrims on the occasion of 550th birthday of BabaGuru Nanak Jee.
He said that the PTI government has earmarked Rs1, 000 million for thedevelopment of Kartarpur in the Federal Budget 2019-20.
Mr Singh hoped that the word “minority” will be abolished by thisgovernment as Imran Khan was giving great respect, honor and due status toSikhs.
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Sardar Mahendar said that he and his community wanted to serve Pakistan tomake it a developed and prosperous country. He added that previousgovernments many a times promised to establish Gurunanak University and aworld class hotel in Hassanabdal but never fulfilled this promise and hopedthat this government will materialize these promises made by previousregimes.
Chairman Baba Gurunanak Welfare Society Sardar Bishan Singh speaking tonewsmen on this occasion has condemned Indian government anti religion stepto not allowing 130 Indian Sikh pilgrims, including women, children, andelderly, to visit Pakistan to observe the martyrdom day of Guru Arjan Dev,the fifth Sikh guru.
He was of the view that bilateral issues should not be allowed to come inthe way of religion.
“Sikh pilgrims from India visit Pakistan for religious festivals at leastfour times during the year under the framework of the India-PakistanProtocol on Visits to Religious Shrines 1974 but denial to visit Pakistanto participate in religious rituals despite having valid visas is notunderstood”, Mr Singh said. He added that “once again, Indian governmenthas exhibited disrespect for Sikh religious rituals by barring themclearance for a religious event”.
