ISLAMABAD: Sikh pilgrims from India arrived in Pakistan’s Kartarpur town at Gurdwara Darbar Sahib, one of Sikhism’s holiest shrines, this week to attend the 555th birth anniversary of their religion’s founder, state media reported.
Every year, Sikh pilgrims cross over from India to Pakistan via a visa-free border crossing known as the Kartarpur Corridor which connects Gurdwara Darbar Sahib, near Narowal in Pakistan’s Punjab, to Gurudwara Dera Baba Nanak in Indian Punjab’s Gurdaspur district.
The Sikh pilgrims arrived at Gurdwara Darbar Sahib from the Pakistani city of Hassan Abdal to take part in the birth celebrations of Sikhism founder Baba Guru Nanak Dev Ji.
“In connection with Baba Guru Nanak’s 555th birth anniversary celebrations, Sikh yatrees arrived at Gurdwara Darbar Sahib Kartarpur Narowal from Hassan Abdal today,” state broadcaster Radio Pakistan reported on Monday.
Additional Secretary of Shrines Saifullah Khokar said all arrangements, including accommodation for Sikh pilgrims, have been completed in Kartarpur.
“He said the Sikh yatrees will stay in Kartarpur for two days,” Radio Pakistan said.
Much of Sikh heritage is located in Pakistan. When Pakistan was carved out of India at the end of British rule in 1947, Kartarpur ended up on the Pakistani side of the border, while most of the region’s Sikhs remained on the other side.
For over seven decades, the Sikh community had lobbied for easier access to their holiest temple.
Pakistan’s initiative to open the corridor earned widespread appreciation from the international community, including the United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres, who had described it as a “Corridor of Hope.”
Sikh pilgrims arrive at Pakistan temple to celebrate religion founder’s birth anniversary
https://arab.news/n92jf
Sikh pilgrims arrive at Pakistan temple to celebrate religion founder’s birth anniversary
- Sikh pilgrims to stay at Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Pakistan’s Kartarpur for two days, says official
- Every year, Sikh pilgrims cross over from India to Pakistan via visa-free Kartarpur Corridor
UK announces ‘major reset’ of Pakistan development partnership with new trade, climate, education initiatives
- UK commits to increased investment-led cooperation in climate, business regulation and higher education
- London shifts from aid donor to investment-focused partner as bilateral trade crosses $7.3 billion
ISLAMABAD: The United Kingdom on Wednesday unveiled what it called a “major reset” in its development partnership with Pakistan, announcing new investment-focused cooperation, education programs and a bilateral climate compact during a visit by UK Minister for Development Jennifer Chapman.
The trip marks the first federal-level development dialogue between the two governments in eight years and reflects London’s shift from a traditional aid-donor role toward investment-based partnerships. The British government said the new approach aims to use UK expertise to help partner economies build capacity and unlock domestic growth.
Pakistan-UK trade has also reached a record high, crossing £5.5 billion ($7.3 billion) for the first time, with more than 200 British firms now active in Pakistan, an increase London says signals growing two-way commercial confidence.
“Pakistan is a crucial partner for the UK. We work together to tackle the drivers behind organized crime and illegal migration, keeping both our countries safer,” Chapman was quoted as saying in a statement by the British High Commission in Islamabad.
“Our strong bilateral trading relationship brings jobs and growth to us both. And we’re working together to tackle climate change, a global threat.”
The minister and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday jointly launched a package of business regulatory reforms aimed at improving Pakistan’s investment climate and making it easier for UK firms to operate. Officials said the initiative supports Pakistan’s economic recovery agenda and creates new commercial avenues for British companies.
A second key announcement was the next phase of the Pak-UK Education Gateway, developed with the British Council and Pakistan’s Higher Education Commission. The expanded program will enable joint research between universities in both countries, support climate- and technology-focused academic collaboration, and introduce a startup fund to help commercialize research. The Gateway will also promote UK university courses delivered inside Pakistan, giving students access to British degrees without traveling abroad.
Accompanied by Pakistan’s Minister for Climate Change Dr. Musadik Malik, Chapman also launched a Green Compact, a framework for climate cooperation, green investment, environmental protection and joint work at global climate forums.
The UK emphasized it remains one of Pakistan’s largest development partners, citing ongoing work in education, health, climate resilience and anti-trafficking capacity building.
During the visit to Pakistan, Chapman will meet communities benefiting from UK-supported climate programs, which London says helped 2.5 million Pakistanis adapt to climate impacts in the past year, and observe training of airport officers working to prevent human trafficking.
“We remain firm friends of Pakistan, including in times of crisis, as shown through our floods response,” Chapman said. “And we know to accelerate growth in both our countries, we must work together in partnership to tackle the problems we face.”
