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Updated October 22nd, 2019 at 17:19 IST

Kartarpur corridor agreement signing postponed to October 24

In a setback to India, sources have reported the signing of the agreement on Kartarpur Corridor between India and Pakistan is unlikely to be held on Wednesday.

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In a setback to India, sources have reported the signing of the agreement on Kartarpur Corridor between India and Pakistan is has been postponed to Thursday 24 October, 2019.  The reason for the postponing is unknown as of yet, but Pakistan has still not waived the $ 20 service fee per pilgrim. On Monday, the Ministry of External Affairs had announced it would sign the Kartarpur Sahib Corridor agreement with Pakistan on October 23.

READ | Pakistan to earn Rs 258 crore per annum from Kartarpur pilgrims

Kartarpur Corridor signing scheduled

The MEA had stated in a press release that it had agreed to sign the Kartarpur Corridor with Pakistan despite the neighbour's 'insistence' on $20 fee per pilgrim, keeping in mind the interest of Sikh devotees. The Centre has called Pakistan's decision to levy the fee a 'disappointment'. It also highlighted the need for operationalising the Corridor before the 550th Birth Anniversary of Guru Nanak on November 12, 2019.

READ | India to sign Kartarpur Corridor agreement with Pakistan on October 23

Pakistan's revenue from corridor

Meanwhile, Pakistan is expected to earn up to Indian Rs 258 crore per annum -- about Pakistani Rs 571 crore -- from pilgrims visiting Darbar Sahib in Kartarpur, according to PTI. This revenue will be apart from the service fee levied on the pilgrims which will be another source of foreign currency generation for Pakistan, which is already reeling under severe financial crisis, a government official said. With Monday's rate of Indian Rs 70.95 for one USD, Pakistan will earn Indian Rs 70.95 lakh every day.

WATCH | Manmohan Singh accepts Punjab CM's Kartarpur invite; will go to Pak

PM Manmohan Singh invited

Previously on Sunday, Pakistan announced that it will open the much-awaited Kartarpur Corridor on November 9. It also extended an invitation to former Indian PM Dr Manmohan Singh, who has reportedly agreed to attend the opening ceremony. The update was confirmed by the Chief Minister of Punjab's office. However, the former Prime Minister has not yet responded to Pakistan's invite. 

READ| Congress: Send Manmohan Singh-led delegation to Kartarpur inauguration

Kartarpur Corridor

Pakistan is building the corridor from the Indian border to the Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Kartarpur while the other part from Dera Baba Nanak in Punjab's Gurdaspur district up to the border will be constructed by India. Both countries have agreed that Pakistan would allow 5,000 Sikh visitors per day into the country through the corridor which will also be the first visa-free corridor between the two neighbours since their independence in 1947. A long-time demand of Sikhs on both sides of the border, India and Pakistan first held talks in July 2019.

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Published October 22nd, 2019 at 16:27 IST

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