News Desk |
In continuation of Pakistan’s efforts to promote peace and religious harmony, Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar laid the foundation stone of Baba Guru Nanak University in Nankana Sahib on Friday.
This university would be built on 10 acres of land with a cost of Rs6 billion and it is an important step towards completion of Prime Minister’s promises and would help hundreds of thousand students of Nankana Sahib district and other adjoining areas. “The establishment of Baba Guru Nanak University is part of prime minister’s vision,” Buzdar said in his address.
Prime Minister Imran Khan had performed the groundbreaking of the project, saying the corridor would be opened in November 2019.
The Higher Education Commission (HEC) in collaboration with Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB) had launched the project during the previous government’s tenure with an estimated cost of Rs1 billion.
Chief Minister Punjab @UsmanAKBuzdar laid the foundation stone of the Rs 6 billion #BabaGuruNanak University today, which would be spread over 10 acres.
Establishment of BGNU in Nankana Shaib, the birth place of Guru Nanak is part of Prime Minister @ImranKhanPTI's vision pic.twitter.com/7yTkaBnWVX
— Government of Punjab (@GovtofPunjabPK) July 12, 2019
With an aim to portray a soft image of Pakistan in the world, the university would offer research and academic activities on the life of Baba Guru Nanak and ancient Gandhara’s civilization.
The university would also be helpful in promoting religious tourism in Pakistan and will be a source of pride for the Sikhs living across the world. The university would not only help improve the image of the country, but also help in improving the socio-economic and educational condition of the Nankana Sahib district.
Read more: Pakistan to complete Kartarpur Corridor before Guru Nanak’s birth anniversary: Bakhtiar
CM Buzdar also inaugurated the first Tourism Development Corporation of Punjab (TDCP) motel, which had been completed with a cost of Rs130 million to promote religious tourism in the district. He said that Punjab government was providing the best facilities to the Sikh community at their religious places under a policy of religious harmony.
The CM also laid the foundation stone of a project of repair and maintenance of entry roads of the district, which would be completed with an amount of Rs150 million. The chief minister also laid the foundation stone of construction of Shah Kot tehsil complex project, which would be completed with Rs110 million.
Pakistan Allocates Rs1 Billion for Kartarpur Corridor Project
In the budget for the new fiscal year, Pakistan has proposed an allocation of Rs1 billion for the construction of the corridor. The overall cost of the project remains in excess of Rs12 billion.
Recently, the Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Reforms Makhdum Khusro Bakhtiar said that the government was committed to complete Kartarpur Corridor on time as it will provide easy access to Sikh devotees besides promoting religious tourism.
The minister said that Pakistan’s gesture reflects its resolve to promote peace in the region and maintain cordial relations with all neighbors, including India. He underscored that the corridor will be developed within the stipulated time so that the Sikh devotees are able to perform their religious rituals on the upcoming birthday celebrations of Baba Nanak.
PM’s special assistant Bukhari has scored a huge win for Pakistan’s tourism industry as Pakistan is preparing for massive Sikh tourism in line with Baba Nanak’s birth anniversary.
Moreover, the DG Frontier Works Organization (FWO) has said that technical details and designs were shared with the Indian side and the work was in full swing on the Pakistani side. DG FWO said that all cultural, religious and social issues have been taken care of while developing the corridor, adding that corridor will include the construction of border terminal buildings, Langar Khana, Gurdwara complex and a bridge.
On November 28, 2018, Prime Minister Imran Khan had performed the groundbreaking of the project, saying the corridor would be opened in November 2019.
UK Sikhs to Invest £500m for Religious Tourism in Pakistan
Recently, the Sikh community in London committed the investment of up to £500M (635 Million USD/96.5 Billion Rupees) for the Kartarpur corridor in Pakistan in a meeting with Sayed Zulfiqar Bukhari, chairman of Pakistan Tourism Board and PM’s special assistant on overseas Pakistanis and human resource development.
PM’s special assistant Bukhari has scored a huge win for Pakistan’s tourism industry as Pakistan is preparing for massive Sikh tourism in line with Baba Nanak’s birth anniversary.
Read more: Kartarpur Corridor: Pakistan completes 50% construction work
Bukhari, who was given the additional charge of promoting tourism in Pakistan earlier this year, has briefed the UK Sikh Foundation, heads of different Gurdwaras & business tycoons from across the UK about PM Khan’s desire to promote religious tourism and develop Sikh Gurdwaras and other religious sites.