Islamabad, November 09: Today marks the first anniversary of the historic opening of the Kartarpur Corridor.
Pakistan foreign office spokesman in a statement issued today said that the Corridor, inaugurated on 09 November 2019 by Prime Minister Imran Khan on the eve of the 550th Birth Anniversary of Baba Guru Nanak, fulfilled the long-awaited desire of Sikh community from all over the world. Kartrapur has a special significance in the Sikh religion, as the first Guru of Sikhism, Baba Guru Nanak Saheb, had spent the last years of his life in Kartarpur.
Kartarpur Corridor, also known as the “Peace Corridor”, is a true symbol of inter-faith harmony and religious unity. The Sikh as well as the international community, including the UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, who while visiting Kartarpur described it as “Corridor of Hope”, has immensely appreciated this landmark initiative of Pakistan.
The Corridor was temporarily closed on 16 March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. As the religious places started gradually opening up around the world, Pakistan also reopened the Corridor on 29 June 2020 with COVID related necessary health safety protocols. India has yet to reopen the Corridor from its side and allow the Sikh pilgrims to visit Kartarpur Saheb.