Islamabad (Web Desk): Prime Minister Imran Khan on Friday greeted the Sikh community around the world on the occasion of 552nd birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev Ji Jayanti.
In a post on Twitter, the premier said we welcome thousands of Sikhs to visit their religious sites in Pakistan.
He reiterated government's commitment to continue facilitating them to perform their religious rituals.
Wishing 552nd Guru Nanak Dev Ji Jayanti to all Sikhs around the world. On this auspicious occasion, we welcome thousands of Sikhs to visit their religious sites in Pakistan. I reiterate my govt’s commitment to continue facilitating them to perform their religious rituals.
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) November 19, 2021
On Thursday, Indian Punjab CM Charanjit Singh Channi, with a group of 30 people including his ministers, were part of the first delegation to visit Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Kartarpur on the second day of the reopening of the route, which remained suspended for some 20 months following the COVID-19 outbreak.
Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee (PSGPC) president Sardar Ameer Singh greeted and received them on their arrival.
Kartarpur crossing was reopened on Wednesday after more than a year as pilgrimage was suspended in March 2020 due to the COVID-19.
Earlier, the first batch of 28 Indian Sikhs, including women, arrived at the holiest site of Sikhism, while over 2,500 pilgrims arrived via the Wagah border.
Pakistan on Wednesday welcomed Sikhs through the 4.7km visa-free Kartarpur Corridor for Indian Sikhs on the eve of the 552nd birth anniversary of Baba Guru Nanak.
Pakistan and India signed the Kartarpur corridor agreement in 2019 and Indian pilgrims of all faiths are allowed to undertake round the year visa-free travel through the stretched passage.
Pakistan had reopened the Kartarpur Corridor on June 29, 2020, after a temporary suspension of about three months however Modi led government kept the Corridor closed from its side for nearly 20 months.
Pakistan and India had closed the corridor in March 2020 to curb the spread of the deadly coronavirus pandemic.
On November 16, the Indian authorities announced to reopen the 'peace corridor' amid the 552nd birth anniversary of Baba Guru Nanak, Sikhism's central figure, that falls on November 19 this year.
