Navjot Singh Sidhu reaches Pakistan to attend Kartarpur Border Corridor ceremony

LAHORE: Former Indian cricketer, Navjot Singh Sidhu, has arrived in Pakistan to attend Kartarpur Border Corridor ceremony scheduled to take place tomorrow (Wednesday).

Speaking to media after coming to Lahore through Wagah Border, Sidhu said he was grateful to Prime Minister Imran Khan and his government for giving him another opportunity to arrive in Pakistan for the border ceremony.

“It was our wish [for border opening] for last 73 years which has now become a reality”, Sidhu said with a smile brimming over his face.

He was of the view that 120 million Sikhs were extremely happy with the decision taken by both the governments. The ex-Indian cricketer said there was no law in the world that barred people from worshiping their religion. He called for organizing regular cricket matches between India and Pakistan to enhance contacts between people.

He stressed that artists from both the countries should be allowed to visit each other’s countries, as they were ambassadors of peace.

“I am a fan of Imran Khan since childhood”, Sidhu said, adding there would be several Indians with massive following in Pakistan.

“I give pardon to all those on this auspicious occasion who criticized me heavily,” Sidhu said while speaking to media.

Prime Minister Imran Khan will lay the foundation stone of Kartarpur Corridor Wednesday to facilitate Sikh pilgrims across the border for travel to a historic Gurdwara in Narowal district.

The work for preparation of the stage, with 20ft width and 60ft length, for the ground breaking ceremony of the road, has been in its concluding phase.

The construction work of the corridor will begin after the ground breaking ceremony tomorrow.

The formal opening of the work of the Kartarpur Corridor in India began yesterday after a formal ceremony.

After Pakistan’s initiative to open the Kartarpur Corridor on the 550th birth anniversary of Sikhism founder Baba Guru Nanak next year, India last week had agreed and decided to build the Kartarpur road corridor up to the border with Pakistan.