As the Kartarpur Corridor entered its final phase, the registration process has begun for Sikh pilgrims who intend to visit Pakistan’s Kartarpur on the 550th birthday of Baba Guru Nanak.
Construction process and painting of the shrine has been completed and electricity has been supplied to the site from Shakar Garh’s grid station.
Imported marble has been used on the floor of the shrine that is spread on 10 acres. Fire extinguishers, sound systems and CCTV security cameras have been installed at the site.
Besides, construction of temporary guesthouses and a border terminal building has also been completed.
Prime Minister Imran Khan will inaugurate the project on November 9, three days before the 550th birth anniversary Baba Guru Nanank that will be celebrated on November 12.
Importantly, Pakistan had accepted India’s demand of facilitating visa-free movement of 5,000 Sikh pilgrims per day, and now they will have to just obtain a permit to visit Kartarpur.
In November last year, Khan laid the foundation stone for the corridor, months after he assumed office after winning majority of seats in the parliament. India’s cricketer-turned-politician Navjot Singh Sidhu and other officials had attended the ceremony. Earlier, Pakistan formally invited former prime minister of India Manmohan Singh to attend the opening ceremony of Kartarpur Corridor on the occasion of the 550th Birth Anniversary of Baba Guru Nanak.
Speaking on the invitation to former PM Manmohan Singh, Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi on Saturday said he (Manmohan Singh) will visit Pakistan as a ‘yatri’ (ordinary citizen) and not as chief guest for the corridor’s opening.
“He is welcome even as a common participant,” the Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi said while talking to the media on Saturday.
Mr Qureshi said Prime Minister Imran Khan would inaugurate Pakistan’s part of the corridor, facilitating pilgrimage of 5,000 Indian Sikhs every day to their holy place. India was initially reluctant to open the corridor but due to public pressure from the Indian Punjab, New Delhi decided to arrange a ceremony related to the corridor the same day, he said, adding that the arrangements made by Pakistan were way better than those being finalised by India.
The corridor will also be the first visa-free corridor between the two neighbours since their independence in 1947.
Pakistan is building the corridor from the Indian border to the Gurdwara Darbar Sahib, while the other part from Dera Baba Nanak up to the border is being constructed by India.
India is constructing a bridge at the zero point and has urged Pakistan to build a similar bridge on its side that will provide safe and secure movement of pilgrims.
Tensions between India and Pakistan have escalated after New Delhi revoked Jammu and Kashmir’s special status.
Reacting to India’s move on Kashmir, Pakistan has taken a number of actions, including downgrading of diplomatic ties, suspension of trade and rail traffic, and expulsion of the Indian High Commissioner.
Meanwhile, the Sikh community residing in Pakistan has demanded of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman to postpone his Azadi March in view of the 550th birth anniversary celebrations of Sikh religions founder Baba Guru Nanak. The Sikh pilgrims are scheduled to arrive in Pakistan on October 31. Sikh pilgrims coming from Canada, Europe, United States and especially India have expressed security concerns in the wake of JUI-F’s announcement of a march.
Sikhs have asked Fazl to postpone his movement so that they could peacefully perform their religious rites. They said any political chaos would affect the law and order situation in the country.
Sikh leaders Sardar Satwant Singh, MPA Sardar Mohinder Paul Singh, Sardar Gopal Singh Chawla, Sardar Bishen Singh, Sardar Ameer Singh and others noted that protest is a fundamental right of everyone but in view of the internal situation and their religious rituals, Fazl should postpone his protest.
They said if the Sikhs from abroad refuse to come to Pakistan due to the political chaos, it will be Pakistan’s and not the government’s loss and would dent the peace efforts badly.
