Ever
since Independence, every devout Sikh prays to let us have
free access to the Gurudawaras left in Pakistan. And among
the Gurudawaras, Nankana Sahib is the holiest and most important.
The Prime Minister of India visited Amritsar on 1st September,2004
on the occasion of 400th Parkash Utsav of Sri Guru Granth
Sahib. The issue of pilgrimage to Nankana Sahib and other
religious places in Pakistan was discussed by the Chief Minister,
Cap. Amrinder Singh with the Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan
Singh. The solution to which was assured by the prime Minister.
On 24th March, 2006, the Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh
flagged off the much awaited inaugural Bus Service “PUNJ-AAB”
(symbolizing five rivers of joint Punjab of pre partition
between Amritsar and Nankana Sahib, the birth palce of Guru
Nanak Dev Ji). The bus carrying 40 passengers, mostly official,
will link the ancient historic cities after 59 years of partition.
Calling it the beginning of a new chapter between two countries,
The Prime Minister said,” This is a historic day for
the Sikh Community both Punjab and elsewhere. In many ways,
it is a historic day for both India and Pakistan as well”.
On this historic occasion, I send my greetings to the people
of Pakistan and to President Pervez Musharraf.
The Prime Minister said,” The journey of peace must
be based on a step-by-step approach, but the road must be
travelled.” As an ancient saying goes,” A road
is made by walking”, I am hoping that we are moving
forward and creating a road, one step after another. Even
though many hurdles have come along the way.
Underlining the importance of trade between the two countries,
the PM said,” it would benefit the entire region”.
He also made a pitch for people-to-people contact to bridge
the difference between the nations.
The journey from Amritsar to Nankana Sahib by the Punjab Roadways
luxury coach will cost each passenger Rs.1000. The bus, which
will be available every Friday from Amritsar and every Saturday
from Nankana Sahib, will take about five hours to cover about
160 Kms. Similarly a Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation
bus will also be playing on the route and would be available
to passengers every Tuesday at Nankana Sahib and every Wednesday
at Amritsar. The Fare:- Rs.1200(In Pakistan Currency)
