The Chief Minister of Pakistan's Punjab Pervaiz Elahi crossed over to the Indian side of the Punjab here Thursday and was accorded a red-carpet welcome as he began his five-day visit from this Sikh holy city.
Elahi arrived here around noon, accompanied by his close family members and an official delegation.
Indian Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh, Deputy Chief Minister Rajinder Kaur Bhattal and the entire Punjab council of ministers accorded him a warm welcome.
Schoolchildren carrying Indian and Pakistani flags and welcome placards were lined up on major roads of the city from where Elahi was to pass.
The city wore a festive look as the administration and other agencies made a special effort to welcome the Pakistani leader.
He is the first chief minister of the 'other' Punjab to visit 'this' Punjab after the partition of India in August 1947 divided the state.
Elahi went straight to the Golden Temple - the holiest of Sikh shrines - here to pay obeisance.
Officials of the religious shrine and those from Shiromani Gurudwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) presented him with a siropa (religious honour).
SGPC officials also gave him a memorandum regarding the management of Sikh shrines in Pakistan's Punjab.
Elahi later went to the Jallianwala Bagh to pay homage to the hundreds of martyrs who died on April 13, 1919 when a British military officer Reginald Dyer ordered firing on them.
He also attended a function at Guru Nanak Dev University campus.
Elahi and Amarinder Singh were awarded Doctor of Literature (D Litt) degree by the university for their contribution to strengthening ties between the Punjabs on either side of the border.
Elahi is scheduled to attend functions at Patiala city and state capital Chandigarh Friday.
He would also address the valedictory function of the three-day World Punjabi Conference at Patiala. Then, Amarinder Singh would present a tractor to Elahi in the state capital Chandigarh.
--Indo-Asian News Service