Pakistan�s Prime Minister Imran Khan Lays Foundation Stone of Kartarpur Corridor

:dateline:Mr. Imran Khan, the Prime Minister of Pakistan, today laid the foundation stone of Kartarpur Sahib corridor to facilitate smooth access of the historic Sikh shrine to the Sikhs residing in India. He performed the groundbreaking ritual amid the presence of Pakistani Army Chief Qamar Javed Bajwa and Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi beside a number of Sikh leaders from Pakistan and India. �

India�s Food Processing Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal sprinkled the sacred water (Amrit) of Sri Harmandir Sahib�s sarovar (holy pond) on the foundation stone�s place and then the Pakistani Prime Minister laid the foundation stone. �

While addressing the gathering, the Pakistani PM Imran Khan reiterated his inaugural speech statement that Pakistan was ready to take two steps if India took one. �The blame game and point scoring must stop. The past teaches you a lesson to move forward,� he said.

Pakistan�s Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi welcomed the Sikh community from across the border. �The flame of the love ignited by Guru Nanak Sahib is afresh. There is a need to understand his message. We are laying down the foundation of the corridor to reduce distances,� he said.

The Punjab Cabinet Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu said that the first Sikh master Guru Nanak Dev Ji had taught the lesson of recognizing the whole humanity as a single race.

Thanking Imran Khan for the initiative, he called for an end to bloodshed and restoration of peace between the two countries. �There must be someone to ensure peace. I am thankful to the Indian government and Imran Khan for uniting people again� he said.

Navjot Singh Sidhu further said that Imran Khan�s name will be written in history whenever there is a mention of Gurdwara Kartarpur Sahib.

SGPC President Gobind Singh Longowal, Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri, Parliamentarian Gurjit Singh Aujla also attended this foundation stone laying ceremony in Pakistan.