New Delhi: The Government of India has consistently urged the Government of Pakistan that, in deference to the wishes of the pilgrims, it should not levy any fee or charge those who visit Gurudwara Darbar Sahib Kartarpur through the Kartarpur Sahib Corridor adding that Pakistan, however, continues to levy USD 20 per head for each visit, the Government informed the Lok Sabha on Friday.
The information was shared by MoS, External Affairs Affairs V Muraleedharan in response to the question raised by MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal on whether the Government has received reports that a large number of Sikh population all over the world is demanding passport-free travel to Sri Kartarpur Sahib Gurdwara through the Kartarpur Sahib Corridor.
The MoS also said that an agreement between the Government of India and the Government of Pakistan for the facilitation of pilgrims to visit Gurdwara Darbar Sahib Kartarpur, Pakistan, was signed on October 24 2019 to fulfill the long-standing demand of Indian citizens and Overseas citizens of India, to have easy and smooth access to the Gurudwara and to operationalize the corridor in time for the 550th Birth Anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev Ji.
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"The Agreement, inter alia, provides for visa-free travel of Indian citizens as well as Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) cardholders, from India to Gurudwara Darbar Sahib Kartarpur in Pakistan on daily basis throughout the year", stated the MoS.
He said that to facilitate the visit, a state-of-the-art infrastructure, including a highway from the town of Dera Baba Nanak to Zero Point and an Integrated Check Post have been built on the Indian side.
Asked whether the Government proposes to consider the demand of the Sikh population and Nanak Naam Leva population for visiting the Sri Kartarpur Sahib passport-free, the Minister of State in the Ministry of External Affairs said, "Representations have been received a visit to Gurudwara Darbar Sahib Kartarpur through the Kartarpur Sahib Corridor passport-free.
"However, the Bilateral Agreement signed between India and Pakistan on 24 October 2019 mandates that pilgrims shall travel the n a valid passport", he added. Since its inauguration on 9 November 2019, the Kartarpur corridor has been used by more than 1,10,670 Indians and OCI card holders to visit Gurdwara Darbar Sahib Kartarpur. The Kartarpur corridor remains functional on all seven days of the week.
