ISLAMABAD: President Dr Arif Alvi has said that cordial ties with all the countries and faiths have always been top priority of Pakistan and it always desired peace in the region.
He stated this while addressing a ceremony organized by the Pakistan Television (PTV) in connection with the celebrations of Baisakhi festival.
The event was attended by a large number of Sikh pilgrims coming from across Pakistan, India and other countries, besides diplomats and senior officers from the Evacuee Trust Property Board.
Dr. Arif Alvi said that having sacrificed a lot during the war against terrorism, Pakistan had learnt the value of peace. He said Pakistan was now a peaceful and secure country and would continue its efforts for regional peace.
He said that in his maiden address, Prime Minister Imran Khan had talked for peace with India. He said it took long to heal up the damages caused by the wars always incited by the miscalculations.
The President said in his address at the Constituent Assembly on August 11 1947, Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah had said that in Pakistan everyone would be free to go to the worship place of his faith.
Islamophobia had created a divide in the world and the government was resolved to protect the worship places of all faiths, he added.
Welcoming Sikhs from across the world to Pakistan, Arif Alvi said they were a peaceful community and urged them to also visit the picturesque Northern Areas of Pakistan.
Speaking on the occasion, President Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee Sardar Tara Sing said by building Kartarpur Corridor, Pakistan had fulfilled the longstanding desire of the Sikh community.
He requested the government of Pakistan to also link Kartarpur Corridor to Nankana Sahib as another goodwill measure for the community. The committee had been actively working to uplift the Gurdwaras in Pakistan and hoped that the construction of Kartarpur Corridor would be completed by November this year, he added.
Sardar Ravinder Singh Khalsa, the group leader of the Sikh pilgrims from India, in his address, said it was pleasing that Gurdwaras had been uplifted in Pakistan owing to the government’s efforts. He also lauded the government’s measures to provide security, food and other administrative measures for the Sikh pilgrims.
Ravinder Singh said that both Sikhism and Islam had centuries old bonds and hoped that this relation would continue in the future. At the event, two documentaries on Baisakhi festival and Kartarpur Corridor were also screened.
Head of PTV Word Mirza Masood said that the PTV was committed to bring change and intended to do more for all the communities living in Pakistan. (INP)
