ISLAMABAD: Pakistan said it rejects the Indian media’s ‘negative propaganda campaign’ against the Kartarpur Corridor, even as it vowed to continue to do what is right in order to advance the noble initiative.
“We are deeply dismayed at the relentless negative propaganda campaign which is being waged by a section of the Indian media against Pakistan on the ‘Kartarpur Corridor’ Initiative,” the Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Saturday.
It added: “We categorically reaffirm that the initiative to open this Corridor has been taken by the Government of Pakistan solely in deference to the longstanding wishes of our Sikh brethren, and especially in the wake of the forthcoming 550th birth anniversary of Baba Guru Nanak Dev ji. Attributing any other motives is purely malicious.”
The Foreign Ministry said that Pakistan had received an overwhelmingly positive response from the Sikh community “not only in India and Pakistan but also from across the globe”.
It reiterated that the government and the people of Pakistan shared their joy, with a solemn promise to make every possible contribution for a befitting celebration to mark Guru Nanak’s 550th birth anniversary next year. “We are convinced that those seeking to sow negativity around this initiative for partisan purposes or due to their known anti-Pakistan proclivities will not succeed in their designs,” the statement read, adding that “Pakistan will continue do what is right for advancing this noble initiative”.
Pakistan’s Prime Minister Imran Khan set the foundation stone to kickstart the construction of the project on November 28 at an inauguration ceremony which was attended by a few political leaders from India. Once complete, the corridor will connect Darbar Sahib in Pakistan’s Kartarpur, the final resting place of Sikhism’s founder, Guru Nanak Dev, with the Dera Baba Nanak shrine in the Gurdaspur district of India.
“Pakistan would now proceed with the development of the physical infrastructure for the corridor on its side of the border. We also look forward to working out necessary details and modalities with the Indian side concerning the passage through the corridor,” the statement read, adding that the inauguration of the project has created another moment of hope for the people of India and Pakistan.
“We hope every effort would be made to preserve and take the Kartarpur spirit forward,” the statement said.
Pakistan rejects ‘negative propaganda’ against Kartarpur project
Pakistan rejects ‘negative propaganda’ against Kartarpur project
- Foreign Ministry says Islamabad will continue to do what is right in order to advance the noble initiative
- Inauguration ceremony was attended by India cabinet ministers too
EU nations back Islamabad measures against illegal immigration, agree on jobs for Pakistanis — ministry
- Boat tragedies and the arrest of Pakistani and foreign nationals at airports with forged documents has spotlighted the issue in recent years
- Pakistan, Poland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Finland agree on comprehensive roadmap to discourage illegal immigration, improve security
ISLAMABAD: Poland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Finland have backed Pakistan’s measures against illegal immigration and agreed on providing jobs to Pakistani nationals officially, the Pakistani interior ministry said on Friday.
The issue of illegal immigration and its consequences gained significant attention in Pakistan in recent years, following the death of hundreds of Pakistani nationals in boat capsizes and the arrest of Pakistani and foreign nationals at airports with forged documents.
The tragedies put the spotlight on perilous journeys many migrants from Pakistan, Bangladesh, India, Afghanistan and other countries, often driven by economic hardship, undertake to seek better financial prospects in Europe and Western countries.
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi this week attended a conference of foreign ministers from Pakistan, Poland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Finland that focused on steps to prevent illegal immigration and human trafficking.
“The conference agreed to formulate a comprehensive roadmap to discourage illegal immigration and encourage legal immigration,” the Pakistani interior ministry said. “All countries also agreed to provide jobs for Pakistan at the official level.”
All parties agreed on joint measures to address the issue of illegal immigration, with participating EU countries deciding to appoint focal persons in the Pakistani interior ministry to improve coordination.
Detailed consultations on tackling internal security, militancy and narcotics also took place at the conference, and the participants decided to adopt a coordinated strategy to address common challenges.
“Pakistan is implementing a coordinated strategy against human trafficking and illegal immigration,” Naqvi told the participants. “Illegal immigration from Pakistan to Europe has decreased by 47 percent.”
He said the reduction in illegal immigration resulted from a tough crackdown on human trafficking mafia, adding that European nations and Pakistan could overcome this challenge together.
