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Published 09:05 IST, November 10th 2019

UNSG welcomes opening of Kartarpur corridor

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Saturday welcomed the opening of the Kartarpur Corridor, saying the initiative paves the way for interfaith harmony

Reported by: Digital Desk
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United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Saturday welcomed the opening of the Kartarpur Corridor, saying the initiative paves the way for interfaith harmony and understanding. In a historic people-to-people initiative, Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on Saturday inaugurated the historic corridor linking Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Pakistan, the final resting place of Guru Nanak Dev, to Dera Baba Nanak shrine in Punjab''s Gurdaspur.

The Gurdwara Darbar Sahib is located across the Ravi river in Pakistan and is about four kilometres from the Dera Baba Nanak shrine in Gurdaspur.

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According to the agreement between Pakistan and India, 5,000 pilgrims from India can visit the shrine daily and the number can be increased in future. The requirement of passport and the USD 20 service fee have been waived for Saturday and for November 12 by Pakistan.

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Separate events were organised on both the sides of the border to launch the much-awaited corridor ahead of founder of Sikhism Guru Nanak Dev''s 550th birth anniversary on November 12. The inauguration of the corridor comes in the midst of frayed ties between India and Pakistan following New Delhi''s decision in August to withdraw Jammu and Kashmir''s special status and bifurcate it into two Union Territories.

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PM dedicates Kartarpur to the country

"Today being present here at this holy land, I feel delighted. This is my honour that I am dedicating the Kartarpur corridor to the country. I am as delighted as you all feel during ‘Kar Seva’. I congratulate every Sikh around the world," the Prime Minister said. "Today at this holy land in front of Guru Granth I pray that his blessings always stay with me. The opening of Kartarpur Sahib corridor before the 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev Ji has brought us immense happiness," he further added.

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