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
Pakistan PM to attend World Economic Forum’s annual meeting in Switzerland next month
- The WEF meeting, scheduled to be held in Davos on Jan. 19-23, will focus on global challenges, public-private dialogue and cooperation
- Government, business, civil society and academia leaders will engage in forward-looking discussions to address these issues, set priorities
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will travel to Switzerland next month to attend the 56th annual meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF), Pakistani state media reported on Monday.
The WEF annual meeting, themed as ‘A Spirit of Dialogue,’ will be held from Jan. 19 to Jan. 23 in Davos, where world leaders from government, business, civil society and academia will engage in forward-looking discussions to address global issues and set priorities.
Prime Minister Sharif is expected to interact with global leaders and investors on economic challenges, regional and international issues and various opportunities for cooperation.
On Monday, Deputy PM Ishaq Dar presided over a meeting in Islamabad to oversee preparations for Sharif’s upcoming visit to Switzerland to attend the WEF meeting, the Radio Pakistan broadcaster reported.
“Dar instructed to maximize the engagements with the incoming Heads of States, Governments and senior leadership of economic, business and financial institutions,” the report read.
The WEF meeting program will be structured around key global challenges where public-private dialogue and cooperation, involving all stakeholders, is necessary for progress, according to the WEF website.
In addressing these challenges, growth, resilience and innovation will serve as cross-cutting imperatives, guiding how leaders engage with today’s complexity and pursue tomorrow’s opportunities.
Pakistani foreign ministry officials briefed the deputy PM about preparations for the WEF meeting, according to Radio Pakistan. The participants of Monday’s meeting in Islamabad discussed in detail the bilateral component and media engagements during the visit.
“He [Dar] further stressed that opportunities be explored to foster collaboration with private sector business entities,” the state broadcaster said.
