Kartarpur corridor huge success for Pakistan, dream come true for Sikhs: FO

ISLAMABAD: Foreign Office spokesperson Dr Muhammad Faisal on Wednesday hailed the Kartarpur corridor as a huge success for Pakistan and a dream come true for the Sikh community.

The FO spokesperson spoke to journalists at the Islamabad airport before departing for Lahore to attending the groundbreaking ceremony of the Karturpur corridor and said, “Today is a historic day and this is an important step by Prime Minister Imran Khan for the inclusion and rights of minorities.”

"It is a monumental event which will open many opportunities for both Pakistan and India," he added. Dr Faisal said the corridor will facilitate the Sikh pilgrims to visit their holiest sites in Pakistan.

“Journalists and the diplomatic community are with us and there is a great interest regarding the matter,” he added.

Responding to a question, the FO spokesperson said the construction of the corridor will be completed before the next birth anniversary of Baba Guru Nanak in November.

Dr Faisal further tweeted, “The journey begins. We move towards the peace which has remained elusive.”

“A huge success for #Pakistan. A dream coming true for the Sikhs,” he added and shared pictures with journalists at Islamabad airport. 

In another tweet, Dr Faisal shared pictures of diplomats and said, "The world comes together for the #PakistanKartarpurSpirit - diplomats attending the groundbreaking ceremony."

Prime Minister Imran Khan will perform the groundbreaking of the corridor connecting Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Kartarpur area of Narowal district with Dera Baba Nanak in India's Gurdaspur District today.

India last week gave the go-ahead to Pakistan’s proposal to build Kartarpur corridor to facilitate Sikh pilgrims wishing to visit the Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Narowal District near the Indian border.

The proposal to construct the corridor providing visa-free access to Sikh pilgrims was renewed by Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa in August this year.

Pakistan will build the corridor from the Indian border to the Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Kartarpur while the other part from Dera Baba Nanak in Indian Punjab's Gurdaspur district up to the border will be constructed by India.

The Gurdwara Kartarpur Darbar Sahib in Narowal district of Pakistan's Punjab province holds religious significance for the Sikh community. It is where Baba Guru Nanak settled down after his travels as a missionary. He lived there for 18 years until his death in 1539.