Share this story!            

Golden palanquin arrives from India

* Borders won’t ruin friendship and vice versa, says Elahi
* Amritsar-Nankana bus service to begin soon

Staff Report

LAHORE: The historical procession led by Indian Punjab Chief Minister Capt (r) Amarinder Singh, carrying a gold palanquin from India to Nankana Sahib in Pakistan, reached the Wagah joint check post on Tuesday. The holy procession, first of its kind since partition, was welcomed by Punjab Chief Minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi and left for Nankana Sahib right away.

The procession started in the form of nagar kirtan, reciting religious hymns, from Delhi’s Gurudwara Bangala Sahib on November 27 at 6am. Millions of Sikhs participated in the holy procession throughout its route, stopping at Panipat, Karnal, Kurukshetra and Ambala.

Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi said the friendship process initiated by him and Capt Amarinder Singh for progress of the people of Punjab has begun to show positive results and would continue. He said the Amritsar-Nankana bus service would begin soon and improve bilateral ties.

He said the government was working on a number of development projects to facilitate Sikh visitors at Nankana Sahib, including a modern hospital in the city and Wagah-Nankana dual carriageway.

The chief minister, replying to a question, said borders would remain intact and geographical division would not mar friendship. He said the Arab countries had the same language and culture and the European Union had the same currency and similar culture but separate identities.

Capt Amarinder Singh said the peace process initiated by the chief ministers of Indian and Pakistani Punjab had been promoted by the prime ministers and had led to the improvement of economic and trade ties.

He said the people of Indian Punjab were grieved by the earthquake in northern Pakistan and they wanted more openings along the Line of Control.

He said vice chancellors of Punjab Agricultural University Ludhiana and Agricultural University Faisalabad would sign a memorandum of understanding for combined agro-research.

He said he was pleased to visit Pakistani Punjab, had fond memories of his earlier visit to Lahore and would visit Lahore again for the joint Punjab Games in February.

Delhi Gurudwara Management Committee President Sardar Paramjeet Singh Sarna, Local Bodies Minister Jagjeet Singh, Planning and Works Minister Pratab Singh Bajwa, Forestry Minister Hans Raj Joshi, Irrigation Minister Professor Lal Singh, Transport Minister Mahindar Singh, Tourism Minister Jag Mohan Kang, Parliamentary Secretary Prakash Singh, Parliamentary Secretary Sakhvindar Singh Randhawa and MLA Randeep Singh Nabha were a part of the 1500-member procession.

Punjab Assembly Speaker Muhammad Afzal Sahi, Provincial Ministers, Muhammad Bashrat Raja, Muhammad Iqbal, Arshad Khan Lodhi, Qudsia Lodhi, Mian Imran Masood, Chaudhry Zaheeruddin Khan, Rana Shamshad Ahmed Khan, Ajmal Cheema, Rana Qasim Noon, Punjab Chief Secretary Salman Saddique, Evacuee Property Board Chairman Lt Gen (r) Zulfiqar Ali Khan, Punjab Inspector General of Police Ziaul Hassan Khan, Pakistan Sikh Gurudwara Parbandhak Committee President Sardar Mastan Singh and Sardar Manmohan Singh Khalsa accompanied Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi on the occasion.

The two chief ministers later met at the State Guest House and discussed bilateral ties and development projects. Provincial Communication and Works Minister Chaudhry Zaheeruddin and Housing Minister Raza Ali Gillani were also present on this occasion.

Home | National

Share this story!