New Delhi: In a big growth aimed toward boosting pilgrimage, Pakistan is reportedly considering the discount of service costs from USD 20 to encourage extra Sikh pilgrims to go to the revered Gurdwara Darbar Sahib by the Kartarpur Corridor. The Prime Minister’s Office of Pakistan has sought inputs and proposals from the nation’s international and inside ministries on this matter.
Gurudwara Sri Kartarpur Sahib is deeply revered in Sikhism as the ultimate resting place of Guru Nanak Dev Ji, the founder and first Guru of Sikhism. Located about 5 kilometers from the Indo-Pak border in Pakistan, this website has lengthy been a beacon for devotees worldwide.
The Kartarpur Corridor, a landmark initiative inaugurated on November 9, 2019, by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi after which Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan, was designed to facilitate simpler entry for pilgrims. Despite its significance and potential, the hall has witnessed a median day by day footfall of fewer than 200 pilgrims, significantly under the anticipated 5,000.
Addressing this concern, Pakistan’s Public Affairs Unit (PAU) of the Prime Minister’s Office is reviewing recommendations from Ramesh Singh Arora, MPA (NM370). Key amongst these suggestions is the proposal to increase the visiting hours for Indian ‘Yatrees’ (pilgrims) to a full 24 hours, reasonably than the present dawn-to-dusk schedule. Moreover, there is a sturdy push to rethink the USD 20 entry payment levied on Indian pilgrims. The PAU has requested viewpoints from its international, inside, and monetary ministries concerning these adjustments.
Although no visa is required to make use of the Kartarpur Corridor, the need to report passport particulars stays a barrier for a lot of Indians with out passports. Harjinder Singh Dhami, the President of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), has known as for extra than simply the elimination of the USD 20 service payment for Sikh pilgrims visiting the Gurdwara Darbar Sahib by way of the Kartarpur Corridor.
He can also be advocating for India and Pakistan to waive the passport requirement for utilizing the hall, highlighting that a good portion of Punjab’s residents don’t possess passports. He additional stated,” The determination, which nonetheless awaits finalization, might mark an vital step in facilitating simpler and extra inexpensive entry to one in all Sikhism’s most sacred websites.”
Initially, Pakistan had claimed that they’ve spent PKR 16.2 billion on growing the Gurdwara Kartarpur Sahib Corridor Project. In return for the service cost, Pakistan supplied Indian pilgrims complimentary shuttle providers, free meals (langar), medical amenities, safety, and administrative help. This service cost, nevertheless, has been a topic of competition stated Pakistan in an settlement with India.
In 2019, Amarinder Singh, then Chief Minister of Punjab, India, criticized the service cost, evaluating it to “Jaziya” – a historic tax levied on non-Muslims. Ramesh Singh Arora, echoing related considerations, prompt that the payment needs to be revised: a household needs to be charged a collective payment of USD 20 reasonably than a person payment for every member. He additionally proposed a quarter-fee for frequent guests, topic to approval from the related Pakistani ministries.
Maninder Singh Sirsa, National Secretary, BJP whereas speaking to ZEE News stated, “Charging fee for the holy pilgrimage has left many Sikh devotees dismayed, we have been consistently urged Pakistan that they should not levy such a fee on the pilgrims to Kartrapur Sahib.”
India and Pakistan opened the Kartarpur Corridor on November 9, 2019, coinciding with the 550th Gurpurab of Guru Nanak Dev, it’s learnt that Pakistan might cut back the Service costs on the Parkash Purb anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev on Nov 27 this yr.
Vikramjit Singh Sahney, a member of the Rajya Sabha, lately highlighted these points, urging the Government of India to debate and negotiate the service cost and different associated issues with Pakistan. This potential discount in service costs and the extension of visiting hours might considerably improve the pilgrimage expertise for Sikh devotees, fostering better spiritual and cultural alternate between India and Pakistan, says Sahney.
