Gurdaspur, November 22: Pakistan government has now responded to India’s request to build the Kartapur corridor, reported India Today. Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan will visit Kartarpur on November 28. After the completion of the corridor, Khan will likely inaugurate it. Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi tweeted confirming Khan's visit to Kartarpur. Earlier in the day, Home Minister Rajnath Singh made an announcement on Kartarpur corridor along with Finance Minister Arun Jaitley. While addressing the press, the two leaders said the corridor -- stretching from Dera Baba Nanak in Punjab's Gurdaspur to Kartarpur on the other side of the border -- would be functional in October 2019 on the occasion of 550th h birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ally Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) and as well as the opposition party Congress welcomed the Centre’s decision. SAD leader and Union Cabinet Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal credited her party for making the Centre open the corridor. She said, “ We used to pray for 'Khule Darshan Deedar' of those Gurdhaam which have been separated from us. Today, the Cabinet of Indian Govt has given green signal to the opening of Kartarpur corridor. Every Sikh in India is awaiting for similar gesture now from Pakistan (sic).” Sushma Swaraj Reprimands Navjot Singh Sidhu For Messing Up Kartarpur Corridor Dialogue With Pakistan

Meanwhile, Punjab minister Navjot Singh Sidhu also welcomed the Narendra Modi government’s decision, Sidhu said, “I humbly request the Government of India to dispense their duty towards 12 Crore ‘Nanak Naam Laivas’ world over, by writing to the Pakistan Government. I hope the draft for the letter is ready as promised by Hon’ble EAM Sushma Ji." After his Pakistan visit to attend the swearing-in ceremony of Pakistan’s Prime Minister Imran Khan in August, Sidhu claimed that the Pakistan Army Chief assured him of opening the Kartarpur Corridor on the occasion of the 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev.

Kartarpur, located 6-km away from the Indian city of Gurdaspur, houses the shrine where Guru Nanak lived in the latter stage of his life. Since the partition, Indian Sikhs have been petitioning for visa-free access to the town via the International Border.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Nov 22, 2018 04:00 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).