Kartarpur Corridor: Punjab CM appeals to Pak PM to withdraw $20 fee

Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh on Friday appealed to the Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan to withdraw the $20 fees imposed by the Pakistan Government on pilgrims visiting Kartarpur Sahib. He also asked Imran Khan to facilitate 'khulle darshan deedar’ of the Kartarpur Sahib.

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

It was earlier reported by sources that Pakistan planned on imposing a $20 fee on all the Indian Sikh devotees visiting the Kartarpur Corridor. Pakistan recently decided to impose a tax on pilgrims. It was earlier decided by both the countries to make the travel to Kartarpur Corridor visa-free. India had asked Pakistan to rethink its decision on imposing a $20 charge per pilgrim. India had also asked Pakistan to allow 10,000 pilgrims on special occasions and an Indian protocol officer to accompany the delegation that visits Kartarpur every day.

External Affairs Ministry had earlier said that India is committed towards the early completion of the Kartarpur Corridor project and has asked Pakistan to show "flexibility" on charging fees. 

READ | PM Modi to inaugurate Kartarpur corridor on November 8: Union Minister

PM Modi to inaugurate Kartarpur Corridor

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the much-awaited Kartarpur corridor to Sri Kartarpur Sahib in Pakistan on November 8, Union Minister Harsimrat Badal said. Modi will inaugurate the integrated check post on the Indian side, she said. Taking to Twitter, the Union Minister announced that PM Modi will be creating history by inaugurating the Kartarpur Sahib Corridor. 

About Kartarpur Sahib

Kartarpur Sahib is located in Pakistan's Narowal district across the Ravi River, about four kilometers from the Dera Baba Nanak shrine. In a major initiative last November, both India and Pakistan had agreed to set up the Kartarpur corridor.

The corridor will connect Darbar Sahib in Kartarpur with Dera Baba Nanak shrine in the Gurdaspur district of Punjab and facilitate the visa-free movement of Indian pilgrims, who will have to just obtain a permit to visit the holy Gurudwara. Kartarpur Sahib was established in 1522 by Sikhism founder Guru Nanak Dev.

READ | CM Amarinder Singh on Kartarpur corridor's $20 tax by Pakistan

READ | Amarinder Singh criticises Pak for charging tax on Kartarpur pilgrims

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