Follow Us
Tribune News Service
New Delhi, October 21
India on Monday announced it conveyed to Pakistan willingness to sign on October 23, the agreement on Kartarpur Corridor.
While doing so, the government also asked Islamabad to reconsider its insistence to levy US$ 20 service fee on pilgrims per visit.
The government, the Ministry of External Affairs said, has taken the initiative to put in place the state-of-the-art infrastructure and open the Kartarpur Sahib Corridor on the auspicious occasion of the 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev so that the pilgrims from India and those holding Overseas Citizen of India Card can undertake visit to the holy Gurdwara Kartarpur Sahib in Pakistan.
“It is a matter of disappointment that while understanding has been reached on most of the elements for facilitating the visit of pilgrims from India, Pakistan continues to insist on levying a service fee of USD 20 per pilgrim per visit. The government has consistently urged Pakistan that in deference to the wishes of the pilgrims, it should not levy such a fee,” the Ministry said in a release.
In view of the long pending demand of the pilgrims to have visa free access to Gurdwara Kartarpur Sahib and in the interest of operationalisation of the corridor in time before the 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak falling on November 12, the government has today conveyed that “we would be ready to sign the agreement on Kartarpur Sahib Corridor on October 23”.
“While agreeing to sign the agreement, the government of Pakistan has been once again urged to reconsider its insistence to levy service fee on pilgrims. India would be ready to amend the agreement accordingly at any time,” it said.
6