Ahead of the Kartarpur Corridor’s inauguration, Prime Minister Imran Khan waived two requirements for the Sikh pilgrims traveling to Pakistan on the occasion of Baba Guru Nanak’s 550th birthday celebrations.
In a tweet, the premier said members of the Sikh community coming to Kartarpur from India would not need a passport. “They will be able to travel with a valid identity card.” The pilgrims will no longer have to register 10 days in advance, he said. PM Imran also waived fee on the day of inauguration and the birth anniversary on November 12.
Imran Khan, in a message shared on social media, reiterated that Sikhs from all countries will travel to the world’s largest Gurdwara. “This Gurdwara will strengthen local economy […] many jobs will also be created in travelling, religious tourism and hospitality sectors,” he stated. “Buddhists have also been coming to visit different religious spots in Pakistan.”
The Kartarpur Corridor will be inaugurated by the premier on November 9 – three days before the 550th birthday festivities. Thousands of Sikh pilgrims are traveling to Nankana Sahib to celebrate the 550th birthday of their religious founder.
The agreement to open the corridor was signed between Islamabad and New Delhi in October. The Kartarpur Corridor will allow Sikh pilgrims to visit Gurdwara Kartarpur Sahib – one of Sikhism’s holiest pilgrimage sites in Narowal district of Punjab – without a visa. The corridor – about six kilometres long – connects Gurdwara Darbar Sahib Kartarpur, the last resting place of Sikhism founder Guru Nanak Dev Ji, with Dera Baba Nanak Sahib, another Sikh holy site in the Indian state of Punjab. The agreement between Pakistan and India is being seen as rare cooperation between the two bitter neighbours after a military confrontation in February that saw Indian warplanes violating Pakistan’s airspace and dropping bombs and Pakistan downing two Indian jets following retaliatory air strikes inside Indian-held Kashmir.
