Islamabad: Prime Minister Imran Khan is pushing to have the Kartarpur corridor open by the 550th birth anniversary of Baba Guru Nanak, which is to be celebrated in November this year, according to a news source. The passage is being opened to allow easy movement for Sikh pilgrims to and from the holy shrine.
Gurdwara Kartarpur Sahib, located in Pakistan, is considered to be one of the holiest places in the Sikh religion as it is the final resting place of Baba Guru Nanak. As it is located only 4 kilometres away from the border in Narowal, it is visible from the Indian side. Consequently, several Sikh devotees gather there daily to catch a glimpse and perform darshan.
Even though the project has been in the pipeline for two decades, it has only recently resurfaced under the new government of Pakistan. The inauguration ceremony for the construction of the road on Pakistan’s side has already taken place and the government is working tirelessly to complete the project as soon as possible. The road will connect Dera Baba Nanak with Gurdwara Darbar in Indian and Pakistani Punjab, respectively.
The first meeting between the two countries regarding the matter took place back in April. Pakistan has announced the tentative dates for the second meeting with India to finalise the agreement for the visa-free corridor. This will be the first ever visa-free corridor between the two countries since their partition in 1947. Pakistan also requested the Indian government to do the same, and New Delhi has suggested 11th to 14th July as possible dates to meet. The talks are to take place on the Pakistani side of the Wagah border, and an official agreement will be drafted for further proceedings.
