LAHORE, Dec 6: Punjab Chief Minister Pervaiz Elahi called on Indian Foreign Minister Natwar Singh in Delhi on Monday. According to a handout issued here , both the leaders expressed satisfaction over the contact at the public level and the exchange of various delegations between the two countries.
The chief minister said the Pakistan government was ready to start a bus service between Lahore and Amritsar for facilitating Sikh pilgrims. He said presently the Sikhs from Amritsar had to go to Delhi before coming to Nankana. After the initiation of the bus service, a major problem of the Sikh pilgrims would be resolved.
He also informed Natwar Singh about the efforts being made by his government to make Nankana Sahib a modern city. The Indian foreign minister appreciated the contacts of intellectuals, journalists, writers and poets belonging to both sides of the Punjab with regard to the World Punjabi Conference and Punjabi language.
He said the efforts of chief ministers of both Punjabs would help strengthen the relations between the two countries. Pervaiz Elahi also called on Delhi Chief Minister Sheela Dixit. During the meeting, Sheela Dixit briefed the Punjab chief minister on the steps taken to eliminate environment pollution and improve the transport system of the city.
Pervaiz Elahi expressed a great deal of interest in Delhi's underground rail project. The project was started some three years ago, and its first phase would be completed by the end of next year.
Pervaiz Elahi is expected to call on Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Tuesday. During his stay, he will also visit Dargah Sharif of Hazrat Nizamuddin Aulia (RA), the Jamia Masjid and the Red Fort.
The chief minister also attended a reception soon after his arrival to New Delhi, organized by Shiromani Akali Dal and the Sikh Gurdawara Management Committee in his honour.
Meanwhile, Pervaiz Elahi and his Indian counterpart, Amrindar Singh, expressed the hope that both the Punjabs would play a historic role in the ongoing friendship process.
At a press conference held at Chandigarh, both the chief ministers said they would submit suggestions to their respective federal governments in order to resolve the problems existing at the national level.
Pervaiz Elahi said both the countries would establish close ties in the fields of industry, agriculture and trade besides taking steps for the promotion and progress of Punjabi language.
He said the Indian research scholars would be welcomed in Pakistan. He said time had proved that war was no solution to any problem, and those who waged wars, ultimately had to sit for talks to resolve the issues.