By Muhammad Luqman
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres visited Darbar Sahib Kartarpur Corridor on Tuesday, where the UN chief was briefed about the facilities being provided to the Sikh community by the Pakistani government on the last leg of his four-day visit to Pakistan.
The UN chief was told that the purpose of opening the Kartarpur Corridor was to provide easy access to the Sikh community across border.
Before the opening of the corridor last year, Sikh pilgrims from India had to cover a distance of 250 kilometres to visit Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Narowal district after entering Pakistan through Wagha border. Now they have visa-free access to the temple through four kilometres long corridor that connects Pakistan’s town Kartarpur with Indian border town of Dera Baba Nanak.
Speaking to the media, the secretary-general said Kartarpur Corridor was a practical example of Pakistan’s desire for peace and inter-faith harmony.
He said the opening of Corridor was a good step and it would promote tolerance and inter-faith harmony.
The UN chief appreciated the facilities being provided to Sikh pilgrims at the complex
I was honoured to visit Pakistan’s newly opened Kartarpur Corridor – a corridor of hope, connecting two key Sikh pilgrimage sites.
This is a welcome symbol of interfaith harmony. pic.twitter.com/zqQa1Prnv3
— António Guterres (@antonioguterres) February 18, 2020
Guterres during his Lahore visit, went to historic places in the city including Lahore Fort and Badshahi Mosque. A dinner was also hosted in his honour at 16th century Lahore Fort.
Earlier while addressing the students of Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS), Guterres said the role of students is very important in the 21st century.
He added that the role of technology is now more important than ever and that the youth must bring themselves at par with the latest trends. “Keeping in mind the challenges of the future, the curriculum has to change.”
“We have to take decisions keeping in mind the environmental issues as it is the biggest challenge that we are facing,” he added.
