Nitish visits religious and cultural sites during Pak tour

Kumar, on his week-long tour of cities like Karachi, Islamabad and Lahore, visited many such sites where he highlighted that India and Pakistan share many common values and need to work together for good governance in the region.

Kumar and his high-level delegation visited the historical Sadho Belo temple near Sukkur, the Indus valley civilisation ruins of Mohenjodaro near Larkana and Garhi Khuda Baksh which is the ancestral home of the Bhutto family in Larkana.

Kumar, 61, during his stay, also visited the mausoleum of Mohammad Ali Jinnah to pay homage to the founder of Pakistan.

He visited the ancient city of Taxila, terming it an "emotive" and "overpowering" experience, and the centuries-old Katasraj temples that have recently been restored in Pakistan's Punjab province.

Kumar toured the Gurdwara Dera Sahib in Lahore, where he wrote in the visitor's book, "I feel greatly elevated and humbled to visit this sacred shrine of Sat Gur Arjun Dev ji, who was martyred here almost five centuries ago. I am overwhelmed to know that people across religious believes in both our countries continue to draw inspiration from this great shrine."

The Bihar Chief Minister visited the prestigious Government College in Lahore yesterday.

"The modern history of the sub-continent will remain incomplete without a mention of this oldest seat of learning (Government College)," Kumar wrote in the visitor's book at the College.

"The reputation of the Institution is reflected in the illustrious list of alumni which to my pleasure includes names like former Prime Minister Inder Kumar Gujral, Nobel Laureate Dr Har Gobind Khorana, novelist Khushwant Singh and people like Dev Anand and Balraj Sahni among others," he wrote.

"A visit to this historic institution is no less than a pilgrimage for me," he added.

Kumar, while visiting the Data Darbar in Lahore, said that it was a one of the oldest shrines in the sub-continent, which is held in high reverence as a place of contemplation and meditation.

"Data Durbar for me is a monument of peace and harmony which has guided and will continue to guide and enlighten the people of both countries," Kumar wrote in the visitor's book there. MORE