India agrees in principle on draft of Kartarpur corridor agreement

ISLAMABAD (92 News) –India has agreed on the draft of the agreement of the Kartarpur corridor. According to the diplomatic sources, India has accepted the condition of the payment of US$20 as service charges. Both countries have exchanged tentative statistics about the corridor. However, India has not informed Pakistan about the date for signing the agreement. The sources say Pak-India focal persons will sign the agreement. The agreement signing ceremony will be held either at Zero Point or Wahga border. Under the agreement, at least 5,000 yatrees will be allowed to visit the holy site every day. India will share the list of yatrees 10 days in advance and Pakistan will verify and finalize it four days before the visit. On the other hand, a press release issued by the Indian Ministry of External Affairs on Monday said that the Indian government has taken the initiative to put in place the state-of-art infrastructure and open the Kartarpur Sahib corridor on the auspicious occasion of the 550th Birth Anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev Ji so that the pilgrims from India and those holding Overseas Citizen of India Card can undertake visit to the holy Gurudwara Kartarpur Sahib in Pakistan. “In view of the long pending demand of the pilgrims to have visa free access to Gurudwara Kartarpur Sahib and in the interest of operationalisation of the corridor in time before the 550th Birth Anniversary of Guru Nanak falling on November 12, 2019, the government has today conveyed that we would be ready to sign the Agreement on Kartarpur Sahib Corridor on October 23,” the press release said.