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Pakistan is not only determined to complete the construction work of Kartarpur Corridor but set to receive a delegation of ministers of the Indian state of Punjab for talks on the project next week.
The delegation is likely to arrive in Pakistan via Wagah border between August 22 and August 28. Despite downgrading diplomatic ties and suspending trade with India after it revoked Article 370 and 35-A of Indian laws which deprived Indian occupied Kashmir of its special status, Pakistan is carrying on with the construction of the Kartarpur Corridor.
University would be built on 10 acres of land with a cost of Rs6 billion and would help hundreds of thousand students of Nankana Sahib district and other adjoining areas.
Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, a minister of Indian Punjab and the chief of the committee formed by the Indian government for the corridor, will be heading the delegation of three other ministers. It is expected that the delegation will meet Prime Minister Imran Khan, Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar and the Punjab Governor Chaudhry Muhammad Sarwar.
According to sources, The Express Tribune reported, the chief minister of Indian Punjab, Amarinder Singh, has written a letter to PM Khan requesting that work on the corridor should continue despite the escalation of tensions between Pakistan and India in the wake of the recent developments concerning Occupied Jammu and Kashmir. He also sought a meeting of the ministers of Indian Punjab with Pakistani officials.
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Sikhs around the world are sure Pakistan will complete corridor: Indian minister
When contacted by the paper, Randhawa confirmed that the delegation would visit Pakistan. He added that the ministers would reach Pakistan between August 22 and August 28 but the final date would be announced after PM Khan and CM Buzdar‘s confirmation.
Pakistan is not only determined to complete the construction work of Kartarpur Corridor but set to receive a delegation of ministers of the Indian state of Punjab for talks.
“We want the Pakistani prime minister to welcome the first batch of Indian pilgrims reaching Pakistan through the Kartarpur Corridor on November 8,” he said. Randhawa lauded Pakistan’s initiative to start the construction of the corridor, describing it as a “major step”. “Sikhs around the world are sure that Pakistan will complete the construction of the corridor,” he added.
Reportedly, Pakistan has completed over 90% work on the corridor, including the construction of the main road and bridge from Zero Line to Gurdwara Sahib ahead of its launch in November.
Read more: Kartarpur Corridor: Pakistan welcomes first batch of Sikh Pilgrims
The Kartarpur crossing will link Dera Baba Nanak in Indian Punjab with Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Pakistan. On November 28, 2018, PM Khan had performed the groundbreaking of the project, saying the corridor would be opened in November 2019.
Foundation stone of Baba Guru Nanak university laid at Nankana Sahib
In continuation of Pakistan’s efforts to promote peace and religious harmony, Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar laid the foundation stone of Baba Guru Nanak University in Nankana Sahib in July this year.
The Kartarpur crossing will link Dera Baba Nanak in Indian Punjab with Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Pakistan.
This university would be built on 10 acres of land with a cost of Rs6 billion and would help hundreds of thousand students of Nankana Sahib district and other adjoining areas. “The establishment of Baba Guru Nanak University is part of prime minister’s vision,” Buzdar had said in his address.
The Higher Education Commission (HEC) in collaboration with Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB) had launched the project during the previous government’s tenure with an estimated cost of Rs1 billion.
Read more: Kartarpur corridor to remain open for Sikhs despite India tensions
Chief Minister Punjab @UsmanAKBuzdar laid the foundation stone of the Rs 6 billion #BabaGuruNanak University today, which would be spread over 10 acres.
Establishment of BGNU in Nankana Shaib, the birth place of Guru Nanak is part of Prime Minister @ImranKhanPTI's vision pic.twitter.com/7yTkaBnWVX
— Government of Punjab (@GovtofPunjabPK) July 12, 2019
With an aim to portray a soft image of Pakistan in the world, the university would offer research and academic activities on the life of Baba Guru Nanak and ancient Gandhara’s civilization.