Thu. Mar 28th, 2024
kartarpur

New Delhi, Sep 4: India and Pakistan have held the third round of Kartarpur Corridor talks on Wednesday which met with a roadblock as Islamabad reportedly insisted over charging Sikh pilgrims a “service fee” for their holy visit to the Nankana Sahib shrine, according to News 18.

The two nations held discussions to consult on and further finalize the draft arrangement for operationalization of Kartarpur Corridor for Sikh pilgrims coming from across the world.

Reacting to the development, Union minister Harsimrat Badal said: “I’m shocked that Pakistan is making such a demand; they want to charge a community which wants to offer prayers.”

She added, “It’s evident that they are trying to create roadblocks, as the plan has been in the works for one-and-a-half years and only two months are left for the corridor to open.”

Pakistan authorities have decided on Thursday to begin the process of issuing visas to Sikh pilgrims from across the world, including India, on September, to attend the 550th birth anniversary of Baba Guru Nanak in Nankana Sahib.

According to Dawn reports, the decision was upheld on Wednesday during a conference meeting of the Religious Tourism and Heritage Committee (RTHC) led by Governor of Punjab province, Chaudhry Sarwar, in Lahore.

After the concluding the meeting, Sarwar told reporters the visa issuing process for the Sikh pilgrims would kick-off from September 1 and be completed by the month’s end.

The Pakistan authorities would also provide the special shuttle service to the pilgrims to travel to the Nanak’s birthplace from the railway station.

Last week, Firdous Ashiq, the special assistant to the PM Imran Khan on Information and Broadcasting, has said the inauguration of Kartarpur corridor would continue to remain in place irrespective of current ties between Pakistan and India over the Kashmir issue.

 

Also read: Kartarpur Corridor : Pakistan to begin issuing visas for Nankana Sahib visit from September 1

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