PM waives off two requirements for Sikh pilgrimages coming to Kartarpur

ISLAMABAD (92 News) – Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan has announced to waive off two requirements for Sikh pilgrimages coming to Kartarpur from India. In a tweet, the prime minister said that the Sikh pilgrimages will not need a passport and just have a valid Identity Card. He said they no longer have to register ten days in advance. Prime Minister also announced that no fee will be charged on day of inauguration of Kartarpur and on Baba Guru Nanak Dev Ji's 550th birthday.

For Sikhs coming for pilgrimage to Kartarpur from India, I have waived off 2 requirements: i) they wont need a passport - just a valid ID; ii) they no longer have to register 10 days in advance. Also, no fee will be charged on day of inauguration & on Guruji's 550th birthday

— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) November 1, 2019

Earlier, Pakistan and India signed the historic agreement to operationalise the Kartarpur corridor. The agreement was signed at Kartarpur Zero line on Thursday. Director General South Asia and SAARC at Ministry of Foreign Affairs Dr. Muhammad Faisal signed the agreement on behalf of Pakistan while the Indian side was represented by its Joint Secretary for Home Affairs S C L Das. It is pertinent to mention here that the agreement was finalised after three rounds of negotiations. After the agreement, Yatrees will be permitted to visit the Gurdwara Kartarpur Sahib from morning till evening. Prime Minister Imran Khan would inaugurate the facility on the scheduled date as construction work has entered the final stage, the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party announced. The inauguration of Kartarpur Corridor would coincide with the birth anniversary celebrations of founder of Sikhism Baba Guru Nanak Sahib. “Pakistan is all set to open its doors to Sikhs from all across the globe,” the PM wrote. “The world’s largest Gurdwara will be visited by Sikhs from across India and other parts of the world,” he said. “As of now, Pakistan and India would sign the Kartarpur Sahib Corridor tomorrow,” Foreign Office spokesman Dr Muhammad Faisal said at the weekly media briefing on Wednesday. The Indian External Affairs Ministry had on Monday announced that it was ready to sign the agreement on Oct 23. However, it has now been scheduled for Thursday.