AMRITSAR, Dec 2: Punjab Chief Minister Pervaiz Elahi has said that the recent meetings between the Pakistani and the Indian leaderships have paved the way for the peaceful solution to the existing disputes and differences between the two countries.

He was addressing a convention of the Guru Nanak Devji University, Amritsar, on Thursday, where he was also awarded a degree in doctrate. Speaking on the occasion, Vice Chancellor S.P.Singh said this degree was in recognition of Pervaiz Elahi's political services as well as efforts for the promotion of the Punjabi language and improving relations between India and Pakistan.

Pervaiz Elahi said languages played an important role in creating atmosphere of cooperation and understanding between the nations and the Punjabi language could fully play its part in improving the relations between India and Pakistan.

He called for efforts to introduce Pakistani readers to Gurmukhi and the people of India to Punjabi script. He extended full cooperation of his government in this regard.

The chief minister also laid the foundation stone of a new academic block in the university which had been named after prominent Sufi saint Hazrat Mian Mir. Earlier, he was received at the Amritsar Airport by Chief Minister of Indian Punjab, Amrindar Singh, Deputy Chief Minister Sardar Chandar Kor, Deputy Speaker Darbari Lal, a large number of elected members.

The airport was profusely decorated with red carpets, decorative arches, banners and flowers. Pervaiz Elahi inspected march-past by a contingent of police. When the Deputy Speaker of Indian Punjab, Mr Darbari Lal, informed Pervaiz Elahi that he belonged to a village near Gujrat, the chief minister warmly embraced him, and said the countryside was in his constituency.

A large number of people and schoolchildren standing on both sides of the roads from Amritsar Airport to Golden Temple and then to Baba Guru Nanak University, welcomed Pervaiz Elahi. They were carrying Pakistani flags and raised slogans in favour of friendship.

Addressing a gathering of the Sikhs after his visit to Golden Temple, Pervaiz Elahi said his government would fully safeguard all Gurduwaras and places of their worships in Nankana Sahib and other areas of the Punjab.

He strongly supported the demand of Sikh pilgrims for starting the Lahore-Amritsar bus service. His counterpart Sardar Amrinder Singh, on his visit to Golden Temple, apprised him of historical significance of the temple.