Lucky to attend Kartarpur corridor inauguration: Ambassador Stefano Pontecorvo

Kartarpur: Italy’s Ambassador in Pakistan Stefano Pontecorvo has said the Kartarpur corridor inauguration was a historic event and he was lucky to attend it.

“End of a long day and of a beautiful ceremony. Lidia (Ambassador Pontecorvo’s wide) and I are very happy to have come. Well worth it. A memorable event; it is rare to be lucky enough to witness such extraordinary celebrations like today’s,” he tweeted after the corridor was opened by Prime Minister Imran Khan.

He appreciated the facilities at the newly constructed corridor. “Immigration terminal facility on the border between and which leads to the Gurdwara Darbar Sahi. Impressive building very well layed out,” he remarked.

Kartarpur Corridor for Sikhs across the world is one of the holiest shrines. It is the same place where Sikh religious leader Guru Nanak spent days leading up to his death.

It is the place where Guru Nanak after a long pilgrimage of almost three decades finally decided to settle. It is believed that Guru Nanak spent his last years in Kartarpur farming and spreading the message of peace.

Guru Nanak lived at Kartarpur Ravi for over 17 years and this place became the principal seat of Sikh faith.

Kartarpur Corridor has been welcomed enthusiastically by the Sikh community, and also represents a rare instance of co-operation between the two countries, which have fought three wars against each other since independence.

Relations between India and Pakistan remain strained, but at a ceremony formally starting construction work on the pathway on the Pakistani side of the border, the country’s Prime Minister Imran Khan said: “We will only progress when we free ourselves from the chains of the past”.

Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi expressed that the Kartarpur project would help improve the countries’ relationship.

“The more people meet, the more they realise how much in common we have and what we are missing by not resolving our outstanding issues.” he said.

The first-of-its-kind agreement aims to facilitate Sikh pilgrims from India in visiting the shrine of Baba Guru Nanak without obtaining any visa but a permit with a validity of one day from dawn till dusk.