Today (Monday) marks the first anniversary of the historic opening of the Kartarpur Corridor – between Pakistan and India.

Last year, Prime Minister Imran Khan on the eve of the 550th Birth Anniversary of Baba Guru Nanak, inaugurated the corridor, fulfilled the long-awaited desire of Sikh community from all over the world.

It has a special significance in the Sikh religion, as the first Guru of Sikhism, Baba Guru Nanak Saheb, had spent the last years of his life in Kartarpur.

In tweet, the Foreign office termed it a symbol of peace stating: Kartarpur Corridor, also known as the “Peace Corridor”, is a true symbol of inter-faith harmony and religious unity. The Sikh as well as the international community, including the UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, who while visiting Kartarpur described it as “Corridor of Hope”, has immensely appreciated this landmark initiative of Pakistan.

Meanwhile, Foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi in his message on twitter wrote: “Today, on the 1st anniversary of historic opening of Kartarpur Sahib Corridor, we reflect on the Peace Corridor as a manifestation of Flag of Pakistan commitment to interfaith harmony & religious unity. Inaugurated on eve of 550th Birth Anniversary of Baba Guru Nanak, it is indeed a corridor of Hope.”

The corridor was temporarily closed in mid-March earlier this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

As the religious places started gradually opening up around the world, Pakistan also reopened the Corridor on 29 June 2020 with COVID related necessary health safety protocols. India has yet to reopen the Corridor from its side and allow the Sikh pilgrims to visit Kartarpur Saheb.