Kartarpur Corridor to be completed on time

Article 36 of the Constitution of Pakistan regarding protection of minorities states: “The state shall safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of minorities, including their due representation in the Federal and Provincial services”. Development of Kartarpur Corridor is part of the commitment to promote religious freedom and showcase harmony with the minorities. Large number of Sikh Yatrees visit Pakistan annually as the country has majority of their worship places, and is considered as sacred land for the community. After completion of the Kartarpur Corridor, Pakistan will facilitate visit of 5,000 pilgrims in a year in general, and 10,000 pilgrims on special days. Kararpur Corridor project is funded by the Government of Pakistan with no foreign funding involved, whatsoever. Phase-1 of the project (with no commercial venture) is intended to be completed before 550th Birth Anniversary of Baba Guru Nanak. Government is poised to complete development of Kartarpur Corridor on time.
Government has acquired 1500 acres of land for development of Kartarpur Corridor at the cost of Rs. 15 billion. Development work on the corridor is in full swing, and around 80% of the infrastructure has already been developed whereas remaining work will be completed by last week of September 2019. Infrastructural development of Gurdwara Darbar Sahib Kartarpur is being done while taking care of all religious/historic provisions. Moreover, the development work has been planned in consultation with renowned religious scholars of Sikh community with a view to preserving legacy of Baba Guru Nanak Sahib and sanctity of other holy places including Gurdwara building, Khui Sahib and Khaiti Sahib. Transport facility for Sikh pilgrims visiting with Gurdwara Darbar Sahib Kartarpur has been arranged. Those pilgrims interested to visit the Gurdwara on foot will be able to do so on development of complete infrastructure.
In November 2018, Prime Minister Imran Khan had performed the groundbreaking of the Kartarpur Corridor honoring his commitment to Navjot Sidhu when he had come to attend his oath-taking ceremony in August. Pakistan is building 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. Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa and Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi were accompanying the premier as he arrived at Kartarpur. Navjot Singh Sidhu, Minister for Food Harsimrat Kaur Badal and Minister for Housing Hardeep S. Puri stood alongside the premier, as he laid the foundation stone of the corridor. India had agreed to build Kartarpur corridor providing visa-free access to Sikh pilgrims who wished to visit the Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Narowal District near the Indian border.
Indeed, groundbreaking of Kartarpur Corridor was a monumental event, which would open many opportunities for both Pakistan and India. This has widely been appreciated except Indian government and Indian media, which is ahead of the government in criticizing Pakistan. On the other hand, media in Pakistan has been appreciative, and many consider the Corridor initiative a great achievement of PTI government. In fact, the elected government and military are on the same page, and trust each other. Some analysts and chattering classes wonder as to how the military is supporting the Imran Khan’s initiative to build bridges with India? In fact, Army Chief General Bajwa also in his statements expressed his desire of having good relations with the neighboring countries. Earlier, there was of course element of distrust between PML-N government and military because the relations between PM Narendra Modi and then Pakistan’s PM Nawaz Sharif were of personal nature.