Elaborate arrangements in Pakistan for Kartarpur corridor ceremony

AMRITSAR: The Pakistan government has made elaborate arrangements at Kartarpur Sahib in Narowal district for the ground breaking ceremony of the Kartarpur corridor by Prime Minister Imran Khan on Wednesday. The proposed corridor, whose major portion of close to 4km lies in Pakistan, would pave way for Indian Sikh pilgrims to travel up to Gurdwara Kartarpur Sahib from Dera Baba Nanak in Gurdaspur district of Indian Punjab.


Vice-President M Venkaiah Naidu along with Punjab chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh and other leaders had laid the foundation stone of the Indian side of the corridor on Monday.

Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB) secretary Tariq Wazir told TOI that they had made arrangements for more than 5,000 persons. “All the preparations had been made and we have made fool proof security arrangements for the function which will be attended by PM Khan and leaders from India,” he said.

ETPB’s coordinator for the function Faraz Abbas said that Sikhs from various parts of Pakistan, including Hasan Abadal and Peshawar, were converging in large numbers to witness the history in making.

While hailing both the Indian and Pakistani governments for making the dream of Sikhs come true, former president of Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (PSGPC) Bishan Singh said that ardas would be offered by the granthi of Gurdwara Kartarpur Sahib. He expressed hope that Indian government would also allow Pakistani Sikhs to travel up to Dera Baba Nanak for paying obeisance in the gurdwara.

Meanwhile, Punjab cabinet minister Navjot Singh Sidhu, Amritsar MP Gurjit Singh Aujla and president of

Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee

(SGPC) Gobind Singh Longowal left for Pakistan via Attari border to attend the ground breaking ceremony.

Sidhu, who was to address a press conference at 4.50pm, reached Pakistan by around 3pm.

On reaching Wagah border in Pakistan, Sidhu, in a brief media interaction, said, “No senior leader of the Indian government has objected to my visit to Pakistan. Instead, they have encouraged me, it is a matter of religion.”

SGPC president Longowal held a meeting with PSPGC chief Bishan on various religious issues at the house of ETPB chairman Tahir Ehsan. Talking to TOI from Lahore, Longowal said, “I am immensely happy to be in Pakistan for such a pious issue, tomorrow will be a historic day for Sikhs especially for Indian Sikhs.”

Aujla carried holy water from the pond of the Golden Temple to sprinkle during the ground-breaking ceremony at Kartarpur Sahib. Expressing regrets on politicization of the corridor during the foundation stone-laying ceremony at Gurdaspur on Monday, he said, “This is purely a religious function and everyone should participate by rising above the party lines.”