New Delhi: India and Pakistan on Thursday signed the operationalising modalities agreement for the Kartarpur Corridor to allow Indian pilgrims to visit the holy shrine throughout the year.
The agreement paves the way for the inauguration of the Corridor next month ahead of the 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev, the founder of Sikhism. The signing ceremony took place at the Kartarpur Sahib Corridor Zero Point, International Border, Dera Baba Nanak.
The travel will be visa-free and the pilgrims can visit individually and also in groups. Under the agreement, the Indian government will inform Pakistan authorities about the list of the pilgrims 10 days in advance and pilgrims will be notified through a message of mail four days ahead of the travel.
The 4.2 km-long corridor from the Indian side in the Dera Baba Nanak area in Punjab's Gurdaspur district will be completed by October 31, a week before celebrations begin to mark the 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev. The corridor is likely to be inaugurated by the Indian and Pakistani Prime Ministers Narendra Modi and Imran Khan respectively, on November 9.
Every day, 5,000 Indian pilgrims will be allowed to visit the holy site. The Kartarpur Sahib Gurdwara in Narowal district of Pakistan's Punjab province is located 4.5 km from the border near Dera Baba Nanak.