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[VIDEOS/PICTURES] Pakistan PM Imran Khan inaugurates Kartarpur Corridor

First India asked Pakistan to increase the number of pilgrims daily from 500 to 5000 now when Pakistan increased it to 5000 and also tried to make it easy by removing Passport condition and allowing any valid id like adhar card or driving license than Indian are creating more issues to keep the numbers low and still asking for passport. There is a long process from indian side after your register on the website they send Govt and Agencies in your area to do the verification and are also spreading rumors that Pakistanis are stamping your passport and once there is a Pakistani stamp on your passport you can't apply for visa easily for other countries. First Khalistan propaganda and now these new hurdles?

This baba jee from Patiala isn't in a good mood watch the video to see what's happening.

<iframe width="640" height="480" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/jqjTMJUX80I" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>
 
Some idiot was claiming that it was PK trying to create the rift between Sikhs and the Ind govt, but it seems the Ind govt wants to create the rift to blame PK. [MENTION=131701]Mamoon[/MENTION]
 
The daily numbers are too low so far I think it only crossed 1000 mark once
 
Pakistan need to make a video explaining in detail process after arriving in Pakistan and on departure Pakistan to clear the confusion created by Indian government of RSS/BJP.
 
kk1992 said:
Pakistan need to make a video explaining in detail process after arriving in Pakistan and on departure Pakistan to clear the confusion created by Indian government of RSS/BJP.
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I think some Sikhs are already doing it brilliantly in different videos by explaining in details where the problem exist.
 
Police Verifi*cation and other hurdles from Indian side preven*ts many from travel*ling to Kartarpur

LAHORE: After more than seven decades, a historic passage to one of Sikhism’s holiest shrines is finally open, but so far, the Kartarpur corridor has not lived up to the expectations that peaked in the run-up to its inauguration earlier this month.

The turnout of devotees, through the long-delayed overland passage, that connects the Dera Baba Nanak shrine in northwest India’s Gurdaspur with the Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Kartarpur, was lower than expected due to the barriers erected by the Modi administration.

“The process of online registration is very difficult. I had registered eight members of my family online, but when we arrived at the Indian Immigration Centre, we found out that only I was registered,” claimed Ramesh Singh, a Sikh from Gurdwadaspur.

While November 9 was a historic moment for many Indian Sikhs, it was not easy to manoeuvre through the roadblocks erected by the Indian authorities. For many pilgrims, the intense verification process and $20 fee surfaced as a roadblock in the holy journey that many had yearned for decades.

But despite the procedural hurdles, more than 2,500 followers of Guru Nanak along with former Indian prime minister Manmohan Singh, Amarinder Singh, the chief minister of India’s Punjab state, Indian parliamentarians and former cricket star Navjot Singh made it for the opening ceremony of the corridor. While the star-studded party faced no difficulties, ordinary Sikhs from India had to go through the rigmarole.

Under the agreement between the two sides, Indian visitors to the shrine only require a passport and travel permits instead of visas. However, they are not be allowed to leave the premises of the shrine or stay overnight in Pakistan.

Harbhajan Singh, a Sikh devotee from Uttar Pardesh, said most Indian citizens do not have a passport, which makes it very difficult for them to travel outside the country. “Obtaining the Indian passport is another lengthy and costly process,” Singh said.

Tanisha Chauhan, another Sikh devotee, claimed requests to travel through the corridor face a high rejection. “The police intimidate younger Sikhs and discourage them from traveling. Applicants under the age of 35 cannot use the corridor,” she claimed.

Police, she said, accuse the youngest members of the community of using the corridor to revive the Khalistan movement, which called for an independent state for the Sikhs. India quelled the movement by charging Sikhs with sedition and brutally killing thousands.

Sikhs from all walks of life believe the process has several roadblocks in India. The keeper of the Golden Temple in India said the $20 entry fee was keeping many pilgrims away from applying for the permit.

However, to offset the financial cost of the journey, expat Sikhs from Canada and the United Kingdom have bailed out funds for those who cannot afford the $20 price tag. “More than the money it is the procedural delays from the Indian side,” said one pilgrim, who spoke on the condition of anonymity.

Commenting on the matter, Sardar Surat Singh, in-charge of the Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee, said: “Prime Minister Imran Khan offered to waive off the entry requirements for one year, but the Indian leader did not reciprocate.”


Source: https://tribune.com.pk/story/2105507/1-india-throws-spanner-kartarpur-works/
 
WebGuru said:
I think some Sikhs are already doing it brilliantly in different videos by explaining in details where the problem exist.
Click to expand...

Introducing roadblocks and acting with dishonesty seem to be the hallmarks of this Indian government. Indian Sikhs are openly highlighting their governments double gaming with regards to the Kartarpur corridor.
 
Iqbal'sh said:
Introducing roadblocks and acting with dishonesty seem to be the hallmarks of this Indian government. Indian Sikhs are openly highlighting their governments double gaming with regards to the Kartarpur corridor.
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What would change after highlighting ?

Do you believe highlighting will have any affect on RSS/BJP government? Absolutely Not.
 
kk1992 said:
What would change after highlighting ?

Do you believe highlighting will have any affect on RSS/BJP government? Absolutely Not.
Click to expand...
As a minimum at least the Sikh yatris have seen the real face of their government, not to mention the undeniable reality of Pakistan and its people. It’s as much, if not more important, about changing the view of the ordinary Indian as it is trying to affect government policy.
Would things change regionally in India?Would the Punjabis vote for BJP in the future?
What about the fair minded undecided who were accepting of the official government and media narrative. How will they view and react to this new reality?
I have answered your questions with more questions and a heavy dose of rhetoric because I’d like to think I know how a mature and developed populace would react however we are dealing with a different set of variables.
 
Went to hairdresser couple of of days ago and Sikh guy there was literally abusing Indian authorities for insulting and humiliating Sikh pilgrimages before and after their visit to Pakistan. He said Pakistanis treat them like VIPs and then they get treated like terrorists in their own country.
 
I have seen tons of vlogs from Indians, all of them say they are taken aback by the love shown to Pakistanis despite their horrendous media's babbling 24/7 and they feel like VIPs when they were in Pakistan.
 
Another lovelorn reached Pakistan via Kartarpur corridor

AMRITSAR: In yet another futile attempt to use recently opened Kartarpur corridor to sneak into Pakistan, a young Sikh mason from Amritsar went to Pakistan in guise of a pilgrim to meet his post graduate Facebook girlfriend but only to be sent back by Pakistani officials after they were ‘caught’ moving in suspicious circumstances in Gurdwara Darbar Sahib complex, Kartarpur Sahib.

This happened 18 days after a Haryana girl Manjit Kaur went to Pakistan using the same corridor to meet her Facebook boyfriend Awais Mukhtar. She was also sent back by Pakistani authorities without lodging any formal protest with Border Security Force officials in India.

This is the second incident of cross border lovebirds using a religious corridor to materialise their online fantasies.

Highly placed sources told TOI on Friday that Amritsar boy Jatinder Singh had gone to pay obeisance at Gurdwara Darbar Sahib, Kartarpur Sahib on Wednesday but was ‘deported’ immediately after he was found moving with a Pakistani girl in a secluded place in the Gurdwara complex.

According to sources, Jatinder, a mason by profession, had gone to Pakistan in guise of a pilgrim on Wednesday but his intentions was to meet his Facebook girlfriend.

Sources further informed that Pakistani girl had arrived at Gurdwara complex after paying a fee of Rs 200 on pretext of paying obeisance at Baba Nanak’s ‘mazar’ which is situated just next to the Gurdwara.
The girl is a student of Punjab University, Lahore.

As the luck would have it, the lovebirds were spotted by the watchful eyes of Pakistan rangers who clicked their photographs before ‘detaining’ them for questioning.

Sources informed that during questioning, the Indian boy and Pakistani girl ‘confessed’ that they wanted to marry and the corridor provided them a chance to meet.

“They were advised that Jatinder should go back and return to Pakistan on valid visa from Attari if he wanted to marry the girl,” said sources.
When TOI contacted Jatinder, he admitted having met the girl whom, he said, he had met about two months ago on Facebook. He said he had met with several persons during his ‘pilgrimage’ to Kartarpur Sahib.

Jatinder informed that he was not harassed by Pakistan’s officials.

Like in the case of Manjit Kaur, the concerned authorities at Integrated Check Post, Dera Baba Nanak were again caught unaware of such incident despite ‘profiling’ of the pilgrims going to Pakistan.


Source: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com...a-kartarpur-corridor/articleshow/72519109.cms
 
Looks like East Punjabis are finding their love in West Punjab :13:

First Haryana ki larki now Amritsar ka larka :yk
 
I hope security will be at the highest level all the time at the Kartarpur Corridor. These are just small incidents and they can be ignored without any issue.
However, God forbid, it just takes a moment of security failure to let an evil sneak from one side of the border to the other, pretending to be a pilgrim. The event that will follow will lead to a total end of any kind of dialogues between the 2 nations forever.
May peace prevail, and may the evil minds stay away from these holy sites.
 
I think more visitors will come if Pakistan is willing to reduce entry fee,I think they are not generating enough revenue to pay the staff
 
WebGuru said:
AMRITSAR: In yet another futile attempt to use recently opened Kartarpur corridor to sneak into Pakistan, a young Sikh mason from Amritsar went to Pakistan in guise of a pilgrim to meet his post graduate Facebook girlfriend but only to be sent back by Pakistani officials after they were ‘caught’ moving in suspicious circumstances in Gurdwara Darbar Sahib complex, Kartarpur Sahib.

This happened 18 days after a Haryana girl Manjit Kaur went to Pakistan using the same corridor to meet her Facebook boyfriend Awais Mukhtar. She was also sent back by Pakistani authorities without lodging any formal protest with Border Security Force officials in India.

This is the second incident of cross border lovebirds using a religious corridor to materialise their online fantasies.

Highly placed sources told TOI on Friday that Amritsar boy Jatinder Singh had gone to pay obeisance at Gurdwara Darbar Sahib, Kartarpur Sahib on Wednesday but was ‘deported’ immediately after he was found moving with a Pakistani girl in a secluded place in the Gurdwara complex.

According to sources, Jatinder, a mason by profession, had gone to Pakistan in guise of a pilgrim on Wednesday but his intentions was to meet his Facebook girlfriend.

Sources further informed that Pakistani girl had arrived at Gurdwara complex after paying a fee of Rs 200 on pretext of paying obeisance at Baba Nanak’s ‘mazar’ which is situated just next to the Gurdwara.
The girl is a student of Punjab University, Lahore.

As the luck would have it, the lovebirds were spotted by the watchful eyes of Pakistan rangers who clicked their photographs before ‘detaining’ them for questioning.

Sources informed that during questioning, the Indian boy and Pakistani girl ‘confessed’ that they wanted to marry and the corridor provided them a chance to meet.

“They were advised that Jatinder should go back and return to Pakistan on valid visa from Attari if he wanted to marry the girl,” said sources.
When TOI contacted Jatinder, he admitted having met the girl whom, he said, he had met about two months ago on Facebook. He said he had met with several persons during his ‘pilgrimage’ to Kartarpur Sahib.

Jatinder informed that he was not harassed by Pakistan’s officials.

Like in the case of Manjit Kaur, the concerned authorities at Integrated Check Post, Dera Baba Nanak were again caught unaware of such incident despite ‘profiling’ of the pilgrims going to Pakistan.


Source: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com...a-kartarpur-corridor/articleshow/72519109.cms
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How does it concern the authorities if the people are meeting their loved ones?
 
minamino said:
How does it concern the authorities if the people are meeting their loved ones?
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Because it is a religious site and I assume some strict sikhs will feel offended if two lovers meet at the holy site. The article does say that they were heading towards a: secluded place. I will leave the rest to your imagination of why they wanted to go to a secluded place.
 
(MENAFN - Gulf Times) The National Assembly has been informed that a proposal for allowing passport-free entry to the Kartarpur corridor is under consideration, in order to attract more visitors.

During Question Hour, Interior Minister Ijaz Shah told the house that at present, passport-free entry of Indian pilgrims to the Kartarpur corridor was not allowed, in accordance with a memorandum of understanding signed between Pakistan and India.

However, he added, a proposal for allowing entry without passport, in order to attract more visitors, is under consideration, for which detailed input might be sought from the foreign affairs ministry.

'As per the procedure, pilgrims could visit the corridor from dawn till dusk after producing an Indian passport or overseas citizen of Indian-origin card, along with the passport of resident country, Shah said in response to a question.

He added that the movement of Indian visitors was regulated through a combination of physical and electronic security systems by the Pakistan Rangers (Punjab) along with other law enforcement agencies.

'Visitors are strictly kept inside the Gurdwara complex by using turnstile gates to avoid their exit toward the Pakistani side, he said. 'All the activities in and around the corridor are monitored through surveillance cameras.

Details of issuance of the national identity cards to foreigners were also presented in the house.

The interior ministry said that 1,637 foreigners were issued the national identity cards during 2009-2012, while 474 were issued the cards from 2013-2018.

The ministry said 420 employees had been dismissed for issuing the national identity cards to foreigners.

Responding to another question, Shah said that the ministry had so far outlawed 84 organisations, while 337 people had been barred under the Anti-Terrorism Act from travelling abroad.

Parliamentary Affairs State Minister Ali Mohamed Khan said that the number of illegal organ trafficking cases had not increased in the country.

He stressed the need for legislation to address shortcomings in the process of organ donations.

Parliamentary Secretary for Inter-Provincial Co-ordination Syma Nadeem informed the house that the ministry of sports had been devolved after the 18th Constitutional Amendment, and now the provinces are mainly responsible for strengthening sports through provision of adequate funds.

She said that national sports federations had been working for the promotion of respective sports in the country.

Nadeem added that the federal government had constituted a 'Federal Sports Co-ordination Committee.

She was of the view that the provincial governments should focus on the development of sports infrastructure at the tehsil level, besides provision of adequate sports facilities in schools in order to promote sports activities at the grassroots level.

Responding to a question about the annual income and expenditures of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for the last three years, Nadeem said that the PCB was not controlled by the federal government and that the board did not take any grants or funds from the government.

'The PCB generates its own revenues to reinvest in the development of cricket in the country, she said. 'As such, the profits and revenues generated by the PCB do not fall under the purview of public resources or public funds.

During the session, Ali Awan raised the issue of water shortage in Islamabad.

Raja Pervaiz Ashraf warned that the gas crisis had intensified in the country.

Jamaluddin urged the government to fulfil the promises made to the residents of South Waziristan.

https://menafn.com/1099674029/Passport-free-entry-to-Kartarpur-being-considered-parliament-told
 
Very pleased to see a whole tour group of UK based Sikh pilgrims in Packages Mall today, having a great time shopping, also accompanied by 4 5 policeman who weren't armed

I spoke to them and they just couldn't stop praising Lahore!
 
MenInG said:
Very pleased to see a whole tour group of UK based Sikh pilgrims in Packages Mall today, having a great time shopping, also accompanied by 4 5 policeman who weren't armed

I spoke to them and they just couldn't stop praising Lahore!
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I hope they can visit PK in total freedom to go to their places OF worship like we can do to Makkah and Medina. IA they are safe from losers that are desperate to stop this for political reasons.
 
Rectify deficiencies: India to Pakistan on collapse of Kartarpur gurdwara domes

The Indian government has asked Pakistan to urgently repair the domes of Gurdwara Darbar Sahib at Kartarpur that were damaged in a storm apparently due to the use of poor quality materials in the shrine’s renovation, people familiar with developments said on Sunday.

Several photos posted on social media over the weekend showed at least two domes of the gurdwara, built at the site where Sikhism’s founder Guru Nanak spent the last years of his life, had fallen off during heavy rains and strong winds on Friday night.

The photos were widely shared on social media, and the Indian side raised the damage in a “note verbale” or unsigned diplomatic correspondence sent to Pakistani authorities, the people cited above said on condition of anonymity.

“India has taken up the issue of the collapse of domes of Gurdwara Darbar Sahib with Pakistan. It has been highlighted that the damage to the structure of the holy gurdwara has caused great consternation to the members of the Sikh community,” said one of the people cited above.

“The Sikhs’ strong sense of faith and devotion to the holy site must be fully understood and appreciated. India has urged Pakistan that, in deference to the sentiments of the Sikh community, the deficiencies which led to the damage to the newly constructed structures should be urgently rectified and remedied,” the person added.

The photos posted on social media appeared to suggest the damaged domes were made of some light material and not concrete reinforced with iron rods, which is usually used for such structures.

On Sunday, Pakistani authorities also issued photos that showed the domes has been repaired.

Despite security concerns and opposition to a service fee of $20 charged from every Indian pilgrim, the Indian government last year agreed to the opening of the cross-border Kartarpur Corridor that allows Indians to visit Gurdwara Darbar Sahib without visas.

Pakistani authorities had said the $20 fee was aimed at raising funds for the maintenance and upkeep of the gurdwara.

The gurdwara was renovated and a massive complex was created around it during 2019. The Pakistan Army was the main driving force behind the project and the Frontier Works Organisation, a military engineering unit, was responsible for the construction work.

https://www.hindustantimes.com/indi...th-pakistan/story-iJu2CosbJ8lZRwnCF9OuyN.html
 
Abdullah719 said:
Rectify deficiencies: India to Pakistan on collapse of Kartarpur gurdwara domes

The Indian government has asked Pakistan to urgently repair the domes of Gurdwara Darbar Sahib at Kartarpur that were damaged in a storm apparently due to the use of poor quality materials in the shrine’s renovation, people familiar with developments said on Sunday.

Several photos posted on social media over the weekend showed at least two domes of the gurdwara, built at the site where Sikhism’s founder Guru Nanak spent the last years of his life, had fallen off during heavy rains and strong winds on Friday night.

The photos were widely shared on social media, and the Indian side raised the damage in a “note verbale” or unsigned diplomatic correspondence sent to Pakistani authorities, the people cited above said on condition of anonymity.

“India has taken up the issue of the collapse of domes of Gurdwara Darbar Sahib with Pakistan. It has been highlighted that the damage to the structure of the holy gurdwara has caused great consternation to the members of the Sikh community,” said one of the people cited above.

“The Sikhs’ strong sense of faith and devotion to the holy site must be fully understood and appreciated. India has urged Pakistan that, in deference to the sentiments of the Sikh community, the deficiencies which led to the damage to the newly constructed structures should be urgently rectified and remedied,” the person added.

The photos posted on social media appeared to suggest the damaged domes were made of some light material and not concrete reinforced with iron rods, which is usually used for such structures.

On Sunday, Pakistani authorities also issued photos that showed the domes has been repaired.

Despite security concerns and opposition to a service fee of $20 charged from every Indian pilgrim, the Indian government last year agreed to the opening of the cross-border Kartarpur Corridor that allows Indians to visit Gurdwara Darbar Sahib without visas.

Pakistani authorities had said the $20 fee was aimed at raising funds for the maintenance and upkeep of the gurdwara.

The gurdwara was renovated and a massive complex was created around it during 2019. The Pakistan Army was the main driving force behind the project and the Frontier Works Organisation, a military engineering unit, was responsible for the construction work.

https://www.hindustantimes.com/indi...th-pakistan/story-iJu2CosbJ8lZRwnCF9OuyN.html
Click to expand...

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Due to heavy rain with thunder storm and strong winds at at Darbar Sahib Kartarpur on 17/18 April night, 5 domes of Gurdwara got damaged which have been repaired today in 24 hours record time by the expert team. <br>PSGPC also condemns the negative propaganda on this issue <a href="https://t.co/UHGYswF2fH">pic.twitter.com/UHGYswF2fH</a></p>— Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (@parbhandak) <a href="https://twitter.com/parbhandak/status/1251854893759021056?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 19, 2020</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
 
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan will reopen the Kartarpur Corridor for all Sikh pilgrims on June 29, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said on Saturday.

“As places of worship open up across the world, Pakistan prepares to reopen the Kartarpur Sahib Corridor for all Sikh pilgrims, conveying to the Indian side our readiness to reopen the corridor on 29 June 2020, the occasion of the death anniversary of Maharaja Ranjeet Singh,” Qureshi tweeted.

The Foreign Office in a statement said the Kartarpur Corridor was a true symbol of peace and religious harmony.

“This landmark initiative by the government of Pakistan has been immensely appreciated by the Sikh community all over the world including India. The first Guru of Sikhism, Baba Guru Nanak Saheb, had spent the last 18 years of his life in Kartarpur,” the Foreign Office added.

The Corridor was temporarily closed on March 16, 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“As the religious places are gradually opening up around the world, Pakistan has also made necessary arrangements to reopen Kartarpur Sahib Corridor for Sikh pilgrims,” it added.

Pakistan has invited India to work out necessary SOPs for reopening of the Corridor to ensure adherence to the health guidelines, the Foreign Office added.

Visit to Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Kartarpur had been suspended for Sikh pilgrims in April by Pakistan as the country battled the coronavirus pandemic.

Earlier this week, the country reopened the Wagah border between the two countries for three days to repatriate stranded Indians in Pakistan.

According to the interior ministry 748 Indians stranded in Pakistan due to the coronavirus lockdown were to return to their country in three phases.

In the first and second batches, 250 Indian nationals each were repatriated while the third batch was made up of the remaining 248 Indian nationals, the interior ministry said, adding the Indian nationals were in different cities of Pakistan.

Pakistan on March 19 had closed the Wagah Border in its bid to prevent the spread of the virus in the country.

Work begins on first Hindu temple in Islamabad

On Friday Prime Minister Imran Khan approved the release of funds for the construction of the first Hindu temple in Islamabad.

In a meeting with Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) MNAs Jay Parkash, Shanila Ruth, Laal Chand, Ramesh Kumar and Jamshed Thomas, the prime minister issued directives for accelerating the legislation process to protect minorities’ rights.

The temple is being constructed in the federal capital’s H-9/2 sector on a four-kanal plot of land allocated especially by the government.

The prime minister lauded the contribution of the minority community in the progress and prosperity of Pakistan and said it was the government’s priority to ensure the provision of equal opportunities for minorities and to protect their rights.

https://www.geo.tv/latest/295079-pakistan-to-reopen-kartarpur-corridor-for-sikh-pilgrims-on-june-29
 
MenInG said:
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan will reopen the Kartarpur Corridor for all Sikh pilgrims on June 29, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said on Saturday.

“As places of worship open up across the world, Pakistan prepares to reopen the Kartarpur Sahib Corridor for all Sikh pilgrims, conveying to the Indian side our readiness to reopen the corridor on 29 June 2020, the occasion of the death anniversary of Maharaja Ranjeet Singh,” Qureshi tweeted.

The Foreign Office in a statement said the Kartarpur Corridor was a true symbol of peace and religious harmony.

“This landmark initiative by the government of Pakistan has been immensely appreciated by the Sikh community all over the world including India. The first Guru of Sikhism, Baba Guru Nanak Saheb, had spent the last 18 years of his life in Kartarpur,” the Foreign Office added.

The Corridor was temporarily closed on March 16, 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“As the religious places are gradually opening up around the world, Pakistan has also made necessary arrangements to reopen Kartarpur Sahib Corridor for Sikh pilgrims,” it added.

Pakistan has invited India to work out necessary SOPs for reopening of the Corridor to ensure adherence to the health guidelines, the Foreign Office added.

Visit to Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Kartarpur had been suspended for Sikh pilgrims in April by Pakistan as the country battled the coronavirus pandemic.

Earlier this week, the country reopened the Wagah border between the two countries for three days to repatriate stranded Indians in Pakistan.

According to the interior ministry 748 Indians stranded in Pakistan due to the coronavirus lockdown were to return to their country in three phases.

In the first and second batches, 250 Indian nationals each were repatriated while the third batch was made up of the remaining 248 Indian nationals, the interior ministry said, adding the Indian nationals were in different cities of Pakistan.

Pakistan on March 19 had closed the Wagah Border in its bid to prevent the spread of the virus in the country.

Work begins on first Hindu temple in Islamabad

On Friday Prime Minister Imran Khan approved the release of funds for the construction of the first Hindu temple in Islamabad.

In a meeting with Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) MNAs Jay Parkash, Shanila Ruth, Laal Chand, Ramesh Kumar and Jamshed Thomas, the prime minister issued directives for accelerating the legislation process to protect minorities’ rights.

The temple is being constructed in the federal capital’s H-9/2 sector on a four-kanal plot of land allocated especially by the government.

The prime minister lauded the contribution of the minority community in the progress and prosperity of Pakistan and said it was the government’s priority to ensure the provision of equal opportunities for minorities and to protect their rights.

https://www.geo.tv/latest/295079-pakistan-to-reopen-kartarpur-corridor-for-sikh-pilgrims-on-june-29
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Absolutely a stupid decision, allowing Indians into the country - yet its increasing at a alarming rate over thr.

Dont care if its a small amount of Pakistan officers / cleaners / cooks/ guides are thr to do thr job - not like many indians will want to come over - they wont have the time / money/ desire currently
 
MenInG said:
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan will reopen the Kartarpur Corridor for all Sikh pilgrims on June 29, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said on Saturday.

“As places of worship open up across the world, Pakistan prepares to reopen the Kartarpur Sahib Corridor for all Sikh pilgrims, conveying to the Indian side our readiness to reopen the corridor on 29 June 2020, the occasion of the death anniversary of Maharaja Ranjeet Singh,” Qureshi tweeted.

The Foreign Office in a statement said the Kartarpur Corridor was a true symbol of peace and religious harmony.

“This landmark initiative by the government of Pakistan has been immensely appreciated by the Sikh community all over the world including India. The first Guru of Sikhism, Baba Guru Nanak Saheb, had spent the last 18 years of his life in Kartarpur,” the Foreign Office added.

The Corridor was temporarily closed on March 16, 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“As the religious places are gradually opening up around the world, Pakistan has also made necessary arrangements to reopen Kartarpur Sahib Corridor for Sikh pilgrims,” it added.

Pakistan has invited India to work out necessary SOPs for reopening of the Corridor to ensure adherence to the health guidelines, the Foreign Office added.

Visit to Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Kartarpur had been suspended for Sikh pilgrims in April by Pakistan as the country battled the coronavirus pandemic.

Earlier this week, the country reopened the Wagah border between the two countries for three days to repatriate stranded Indians in Pakistan.

According to the interior ministry 748 Indians stranded in Pakistan due to the coronavirus lockdown were to return to their country in three phases.

In the first and second batches, 250 Indian nationals each were repatriated while the third batch was made up of the remaining 248 Indian nationals, the interior ministry said, adding the Indian nationals were in different cities of Pakistan.

Pakistan on March 19 had closed the Wagah Border in its bid to prevent the spread of the virus in the country.

Work begins on first Hindu temple in Islamabad

On Friday Prime Minister Imran Khan approved the release of funds for the construction of the first Hindu temple in Islamabad.

In a meeting with Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) MNAs Jay Parkash, Shanila Ruth, Laal Chand, Ramesh Kumar and Jamshed Thomas, the prime minister issued directives for accelerating the legislation process to protect minorities’ rights.

The temple is being constructed in the federal capital’s H-9/2 sector on a four-kanal plot of land allocated especially by the government.

The prime minister lauded the contribution of the minority community in the progress and prosperity of Pakistan and said it was the government’s priority to ensure the provision of equal opportunities for minorities and to protect their rights.

https://www.geo.tv/latest/295079-pakistan-to-reopen-kartarpur-corridor-for-sikh-pilgrims-on-june-29
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I read on TOI that GoI have rejected the proposal and rightly so. Right now both countries need to focus on containing the pandemic. Most of the religious centres have been closed to fight COVID-19.
 
LAHORE: The Kartarpur Corridor was reopened today [Monday] after three-and-a-half months to commemorate the death anniversary of Sikh Maharaja Ranjit Singh.

According to Sardar Gobind Singh, Head Granthi Darbar, Kartarpur, the death anniversary rituals of Sikh Maharaja Ranjit Singh at Darbar Baba Guru Nanak Kartarpur will begin at 12:30pm.

However, due to the lockdown, the entry to Kartarpur Gurdwara has been closed.

Sardar Gobind Singh further said that the entire Sikh nation is immensely happy with the reopening of corridor after nearly four months.

Also read: Kartarpur Corridor a ‘practical example’ of Pakistan's desire for peace: UN chief

He said that Sikh pilgrims from all over the world, including Pakistan, would participate in prayer ceremony on the occasion while the Indian government should also allow Sikh pilgrims to visit Kartarpur corridor.

Prime Minister Imran Khan had inaugurated the Kartarpur Corridor on November 9 last year but the corridor was closed after the outbreak of the COVID-19.

On the other hand, Pakistan had announced to open Kartarpur corridor on June 29 and India was also informed about the development but New Delhi had refused to open the corridor for its pilgrims.

https://www.geo.tv/latest/295405-kartarpur-corridor-to-reopen-today-after-months
 
Pakistan has decided to reopen the Gurdwara Kartarpur Sahib Corridor, in the wake of an "overall improvement in the COVID-19 situation".

According to a notification issued by the ministry of religious affairs on Friday, the reopening will take effect immediately.

Indian visitors are allowed to come daily from dawn to dusk as per the bilateral agreement made in 2019 between India and Pakistan. They have been requested to comply with the precautionary measures on COVID-19.

Local visitors will also be able to come from dawn to dusk every day, subject to the observance of COVID-19 safety protocols.

The first Guru of Sikhism, Baba Guru Nanak Sahib, had spent the last 18 years of his life in Kartarpur, a town located in Punjab province's Narowal district.

Visits to Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Kartarpur had been suspended for Sikh pilgrims in March by Pakistan as the country battled the coronavirus pandemic.

It was reopened briefly in June to commemorate Maharaja Ranjit Singh's death anniversary, with India rejecting Pakistan's offer and refusing to open the corridor on its side.

For millions of Sikhs around the world, it is one of their holiest places. When Pakistan was carved out of colonial India at independence from Britain in 1947, Kartarpur ended up on the western side of the border — though most of the region's Sikhs remained on the other side.

For them, it is tantalisingly close — just four kilometres inside Pakistan, so near that Indian Sikhs have been known to stand on the other side and simply gaze across the divide at the site.

Decades of enmity between India and Pakistan left extreme restrictions on their ability to visit the site, until November 10, 2019, when Prime Minister Imran Khan formally inaugurated the corridor.
 
Pakistan issues visas to Indian Hindu pilgrims to visit historic temples

Pakistan on Tuesday issued visas to Indian Hindu pilgrims to visit the Shadani Darbar in Sukkur and Katas Raj temples in Punjab's Chakwal district.

The Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi has issued visas to two groups of pilgrims in December 2020 to visit their revered sites in Pakistan.

On Monday, a group of 47 Indian pilgrims were issued visas to visit the Shree Katas Raj temples - also known as Qila Katas or complex of Katas Temples - in Chakwal from December 23 to 29.

The Katas Raj temples surround a sacred pond to Hindu devotees.

Meanwhile, another group of 44 pilgrims returned to India after their visit to Pakistan, where they participated in the 312th birth anniversary celebrations of Shiv Avtari Satguru Sant Shadaram Sahib in Sukkur from December 15 to 21.

Over three centuries old, the Shadani Darbar temple is a holy place for devotees from across the world. The temple was founded in 1786 by Sant Shamdaram Sahib, who was born in Lahore in 1708.

Thousands of Indian Sikhs and Hindu pilgrims visit Pakistan under the bilateral agreement 'Protocol on Visits to Religious Shrines of 1974' to observe several religious festivals every year.

The visas issued from New Delhi are in addition to the visas granted to Sikh and Hindu pilgrims participating in these events from other countries.

The issuance of pilgrimage visas to Sikh and Hindu pilgrims is part of the Government of Pakistan’s endeavors to facilitate their visits to religious shrines.

Pakistan remains committed to preserving sacred religious places and extending all possible facilitation for the visiting pilgrims of all faiths.

https://tribune.com.pk/story/227695...dian-hindu-pilgrims-to-visit-historic-temples
 
LAHORE: In order to participate in the religious festival of Baisakhi, one thousand Sikh pilgrims have reached Pakistan to pay a visit to their religious sites.

According to a report by Geo News, the group of pilgrims have reached Lahore via the Wagah Border under the leadership of Sardar Gurmeet Singh.

Tariq Qazir, Additional Secretary of the Evacuee Trust Property Board — a governmental department responsible for administering evacuee properties, including educational, charitable or religious trusts left behind by Hindus and Sikhs who migrated to India after partition — welcomed the Sikh pilgrims to the country.

On the other hand, pilgrims have expressed their pleasure upon visiting their holy sites and have thanked the government of Pakistan for issuing a large number of visas to the pilgrims on short notice.

According to NDTV, the Baisakhi festival marks New Year day for the Sikh community. On the occasion, Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth and the last Sikh Guru, had established the Khalsa in 1699.

https://www.geo.tv/latest/344951-si...-pakistan-to-participate-in-baisakhi-festival
 
The Pakistan government on Sunday announced that it will allow entry to vaccinated pilgrims to visit Kartarpur Sahib gurudwara on the death anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev, under strict Covid-19 protocols.

The government also laid out a list of guidelines for the potential pilgrims who wish to visit Kartarpur, which is in Pakistan's Punjab province, next month.

In an official statement, the Pakistan govt's National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) stated that a session was chaired by Federal Minister for Planning Development and Special Initiatives, Asad Umer on August 10 to discuss the movement of Indian Sikh pilgrims through Kartarpur Corridor for religious events in Pakistan.
 
Neighboring India has left no stone unturned in exposing its lack of commitment to its constitutional commitment of religious freedom and the government’s stubbornness in allowing its Sikh population to use the Kartarpur Corridor is further proof.

Since its inauguration ceremony nearly 2 years ago, the visa-free border crossing has mostly remained closed owing to Covid-related travel restrictions. However, even when the Pakistani government has shown leniency, to allow Sikhs from across the border to visit the Gurdwara Darbar Sahib using the corridor, the Narendra Modi administration has not reciprocated it. Most recently, on the death anniversary of Guru Nanak arrangements were made for Sikhs who wanted to attend the three-day rituals taking place at Kartarpur but Pakistan’s counterpart kept mum on if they would open their side of the corridor.

Now with the birth anniversary celebrations of Sikhism’s founder on the horizon, Guru Nanak’s devotees residing in India see no hope of being able to attend and pay their respects which forms an integral part of their religion. Sardar Jinderpal Singh, who resides in Amritsar, a city in Indian Punjab, told the Express Tribune that he has been trying for months to come to Pakistan to just get a glimpse of the Gurdwara but he has been consistently shunned.

“I contact the Shiromani Committee and the immigration officials of Kartarpur Corridor regularly to inquire about the reopening. Not soon, is all I get in reply,” Jinderpal informed over a telephonic interview.

Purposefully curtailing Sikhs like Jinderpal from performing their religious rites ties into the Modi administration's conservative agenda of making India a Hindu state, a fact which weighs heavily on the community. “We got access to our holy site after 72 years of prayers and now the Indian government is actively avoiding its responsibility of opening the corridor when it has relaxed every other superspreader related restriction,” an irate Rajinder Singh Ruby said. Rajinder, who is the manager of the Golden Temple, a Sikh holy site in Amritsar, is amongst a significant number of people who believe that India is ruining a symbol of peace by rejecting Pakistan’s consistent attempts at accommodating Sikhs to perform their religious obligations.

These beliefs do not come as a surprise owing to the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) stance of isolating Pakistan whether it is through targeted disinformation campaigns or malignment at international forums vis-a-vis Kashmir.

Sardar Amar Singh, Head of the Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee, who is also overseeing the arrangements for the birth anniversary, while talking to the Express Tribune said, “our government has reopened the corridor before as well but it seems like our Indian counterparts are bent on not letting us reunite with our families across the border.” This hostile attitude by the far-right government against its Sikh population was first seen at the infamous farmer’s protest held in India earlier during the year in which aided by its supporters Sikhs were demonised and labeled as separatists working for Pakistan.

Despite being pitted against their countrymen by their own ruling administration’s nationalist ideology, Sikhs like Ramesh Singh are hopeful of a miracle. “I pray daily that the Modi administration listens to our pleas and reopens the corridor so that my wife and I can fulfill our lifelong wish of visiting the holy land that Guru once used to walk on,” Ramesh told the Express Tribune.

Separate arrangements

While the Pakistani government might not be able to fulfill Ramesh’s wishes for the corridor being open from the Indian side, it has made separate arrangements to ensure that at least some Sikhs can still be a part of the celebrations.

The government will issue 10-day visas for up to 3,000 pilgrims from across the globe including those across the border. Sikhs from India will be allowed to enter through the Wagah border and will then be taken to the Nankana Sahib. After attending the main function on November 19, pilgrims will be given tours to other Gurduwaras across the country.

https://tribune.com.pk/story/2326183/modi-doesnt-budge-on-kartarpur
 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Today is the second anniversary of the Kartarpur Corridor - a corridor of interfaith harmony that allows India’s Sikh community special access to one of their holiest sites. Kartarpur Corridor reflects my government’s commitment to minority rights and interfaith harmony.</p>— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ImranKhanPTI/status/1458030715770216449?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 9, 2021</a></blockquote>
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This has to be one of the most absurd political games of one-upmanship ever. Like not allowing access will create an Indian rebellion.
 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Pakistan High Commission for India issues around 3000 visas to Indian Sikh Yatrees on the eve of the 552nd Birth Anniversary of Baba Guru Nanak. <a href="https://t.co/Rm5L7HyGNP">pic.twitter.com/Rm5L7HyGNP</a></p>— Pakistan High Commission India (@PakinIndia) <a href="https://twitter.com/PakinIndia/status/1459161138776592386?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 12, 2021</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Pakistan High Commission in India extends profound felicitations to the Sikh community in India and across the world on the 552nd Birth Anniversary of the founder of Sikh religion. The High Commission also wishes a spiritually rewarding yatra to the pilgrims visiting Pakistan.</p>— Pakistan High Commission India (@PakinIndia) <a href="https://twitter.com/PakinIndia/status/1459161877380939777?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 12, 2021</a></blockquote>
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The Foreign Office said on Friday the Kartarpur Corridor was open from the Pakistani side and India was also expected to allow the Sikh pilgrims, to attend the upcoming birth anniversary celebrations of Baba Guru Nanak later this month.

Foreign Office spokesperson Asim Iftikhar told his weekly press briefing that elaborate arrangements had been made for Baba Guru Nanak’s birth anniversary celebrations, which would be observed from November 17-26.

“We are all set to welcome thousands of devotees from India and around the world coming to Pakistan for the upcoming birth anniversary celebrations of Baba Guru Nanak from 17-26 November for which elaborate arrangements have been put in place,” Iftikhar said.

The Kartarpur Corridor, dubbed by the UN secretary-general as the ‘Corridor of Hope’, was Inaugurated by Prime Minister Imran Khan in 2019. Recently Pakistan commemorated the second anniversary of its opening.

“The corridor is a shining example of our efforts to promote interfaith harmony and is reflective of the primacy Pakistan accords to religious minorities in the country,” Asim Iftikhar told the reporters.

The spokesperson noted with growing concern how minorities in India, particularly Muslims, were being systematically persecuted and ostracised under the Hindutva-driven ideology of the BJP-RSS combine.

“Besides closing its eyes to radical mobs, the Indian authorities are also pursuing anti-Muslim citizenship-related policies and actions, including the mischievous NRC scheme aimed at disenfranchising millions of Muslims,” he added.

On the occasion, the spokesperson apprised the media of the diplomatic engagements, including the meeting of the Troika Plus, the interaction of Acting Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi with the Pakistani leadership and the special envoys under the Troika Plus format.

He also highlighted the visit of OIC’s Special Envoy for Jammu and Kashmir Ambassador Yousef Aldobeay, accompanied by a high-level delegation, who visited Pakistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir from 7-12 November.

Regarding the situation in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), the spokesperson condemned the killing of two more Kashmiris by Indian occupation forces on Thursday. Since October 1, 21 Kashmiris had been martyred in fake encounters,” he added.

Responding to a question about the frozen assets of Afghanistan, Asim Iftikhar said that Pakistan had sensitised all the incoming high-level delegations and all “our interlocutors in the engagements abroad, including the very intensive outreach by the foreign minister”.

The spokesperson reiterated that Pakistan firmly adhered to the One-China Policy. “The affairs related to Taiwan are China’s internal matter. We oppose any notion of ‘Taiwan Independence’ or ‘One China, One Taiwan’,” he said.

“There is only one China in the world, and Taiwan is part of China,” the foreign office spokesperson declared. “The issue of lawful representation of the Chinese people at the UN has been settled 50 years ago, as you know.”

Asked about the status of GSP+, he said the current regime would expire in December 2023. The European Commission was reviewing the framework under which the scheme would be renewed beyond January 2024, and that would be relevant to all beneficiary countries.

https://tribune.com.pk/story/2329225/india-should-allow-kartarpur-pilgrimage-fo
 
Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led Indian government on Tuesday decided to meet the demands of thousands of Sikh pilgrims in the neighboring country, and agreed to reopen the Kartarpur Corridor. The passage had been closed for the past 18 months.

Pakistan and India had closed the corridor in March 2020 to curb the spread of the deadly coronavirus pandemic.

The Indian authorities took the decision to reopen the 'peace corridor' amid the 552nd birth anniversary of Guru Nanak - Sikhism's central figure - that falls on November 19 this year. A formal notification in this regard is also likely to be issued later today, a central leader of the Shiromani Committee of India told the Express Tribune.

Pakistan authorities had already announced their decision to reopen the corridor earlier this month. The country is likely to allow around 8,000 Sikh pilgrims from around the world to participate in the birthday celebration.

However, the Sikh community in India was awaiting New Delhi's decision. Two days ago, the head of the Shiromani Committee, Bibi Jagir Kaur, had also written a letter to PM Modi in this regard.

Following Pakistan's and the community's demand to reopen the corridor, India will open registrations for the pilgrims tomorrow (Nov 17) and the first set of around 250 Sikh pilgrims are said to arrive through the passage on November 19.

Meanwhile, around 3,000 Sikh pilgrims from India are set to arrive in Pakistan via the Wagah border on November 17.

Read More: Sikh pilgrims await Modi govt to reopen Kartarpur Corridor

Under the leadership of Sardar Surbir Singh, a group of 10 Afghan Sikh pilgrims from Afghanistan have already reached Pakistan via the Torkham border. Among them are six women. Another group of 24 Afghan Sikh pilgrims is also expected to visit Pakistan soon.
 
Isn't this theoretically a gateway for RAW ?. It seems a blatant ceding of national security.
 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Wishing 552nd Guru Nanak Dev Ji Jayanti to all Sikhs around the world. On this auspicious occasion, we welcome thousands of Sikhs to visit their religious sites in Pakistan. I reiterate my govt’s commitment to continue facilitating them to perform their religious rituals.</p>— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ImranKhanPTI/status/1461533506454974467?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 19, 2021</a></blockquote>
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LAHORE:
Indian cricketer-turned-politician Navjot Singh Sidhu crossed into Pakistan on Saturday via the Kartarpur Corridor to pay homage to Gurdwara Sri Kartarpur Sahib.

Pakistani officials welcomed Sidhu with garlands and rose petals. "Imran Khan is my elder brother. He has given me a lot of love," said the former cricketer on arrival.

Thousands of Sikh pilgrims from across the globe have gathered in the Nankana Sahib district of Punjab to celebrate the 552nd birth anniversary of Baba Guru Nanak, the founder of their religion.

The 10-day celebrations began on Wednesday in Nankana Sahib – the birthplace of Baba Guru Nanak with Akhand Path, a reading of 1,430 pages of the holy book of Sikhism, the Granth Sahib.

Pakistan is home to some of the most important pilgrimage sites for Sikhs. They include the birthplace of Baba Guru Nanak, who was born in 1469, Kartarpur Sahib Gurdwara, and Gurdwara Panja Sahib in Hasan Abdal.

Sikhs from Afghanistan have arrived in Pakistan through the Torkham Border and a group of Indian Sikh pilgrims has arrived on November 17 through the Wahga border. During the celebrations, Sikh pilgrims will also be visiting Darbar Kartarpur Sahib.

https://tribune.com.pk/story/233029...RCMHZFeS1HVnpTSTdlOXdJV19VSmJRbzRROVktUFZYUlI
 
SpiritOf1903 said:
Isn't this theoretically a gateway for RAW ?. It seems a blatant ceding of national security.
Click to expand...

There are a thousand ways to cros Pakistan-India border. It will be unfair and against Pak constitution to forbid Sikhs from performing their religious duties.

Also, if RAW is using the corridor to infiltrate Pakistan then it is Pakistani security agencies who should be questioned.

Many extremists from both sides have tried their best for this corridor to close. I think this corridor is already playing a very important role in the region's way to peace.
 
Pakistan issues visas to Indian pilgrims to visit Shadani Darbar in Sindh

Pakistan said last year 44 Indian pilgrims visited Pakistan to participate in celebrations marking the 312th birth anniversary of Shadaram Sahib from December 15 to December 21.
Pakistan has issued visas to more than 130 Indians to visit the country for the birth anniversary celebrations of Hindu saint Shiv Avtari Satguru Sant Shadaram Sahib in the Sindh province, the high commission to India said on Wednesday.

“Today, Pakistan High Commission in Delhi issued 136 visas to Indian Hindu pilgrims,” an official of the Pakistan high commission was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.

“They are visiting Pakistan to participate in the 313th birth anniversary celebrations of Shiv Avtari Satguru Sant Shadaram Sahib at Shadani Darbar Hayat Pitafi in Sindh from December 4-15,”

Last year, the high commission said 44 Indian pilgrims visited Pakistan to participate in celebrations marking the 312th birth anniversary of Shadaram Sahib from December 15 to December 21.

Also read | ‘Pleasing that Kartapur corridor has reopened’: PM Modi in address to the nation

Shadani Darbar in Sukkur was founded in 1786 by Sant Shadaram Sahib, who was born in Lahore in 1708. The temple is more than three centuries old and is visited by devotees from around the world.

The Pakistan high commission also issued visas to a group of 47 Indian pilgrims in 2020 to visit Katas Raj temple in Chakwal district of Punjab during December 23-20. The temple is also known as Qila Katas.

Sikh and Hindu pilgrims from India visit Pakistan under the bilateral Protocol on Visits to Religious Shrines of 1974 to participate in religious festivals and events every year.

The Kartarpur Corridor, which allows Indian nationals to make visa-free visits to the gurdwara built at the site in Pakistan where Guru Nanak spent the final years of his life, was recently reopened.

https://www.hindustantimes.com/indi...-shadani-darbar-in-sindh-101638365358837.html
 
PAC asked to exempt projects like Kartarpur from audit

ISLAMABAD:
Frontier Works Organisation (FWO) Director General Major General Kamal Azfar recommended on Tuesday to the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) that strategic projects like Kartarpur Corridor should be exempted from being subjected to audit that is applicable to normal developmental projects.

He also proposed allowing special rates for projects he identified as “strategic projects” with national interest attached to them.

In his briefing to the committee on the Kartarpur project, the DG FWO suggested that in order to bring relaxation in the procedure, certain rules should be enacted and set in place that differentiated projects of "national interest" from others as “this [Kartarpur] project was first of its kind in the last 70 years”.

“Accelerated cost of a project with no upfront financial support from the client should not be viewed/audited/compared in line with the project executed through the normal course of business/procedures,” the DG stated.

Azfar also said that a minimum of 25 per cent of the estimated cost should be arranged for projects of strategic significance as mobilisation advance, revealing that money was borrowed to complete the Kartarpur project due to the delay in the disbursement of funds by the government.

However, the PAC chairman along with committee members raised objections to the recommended changes on the grounds that granting special concessions on the basis of the said features and definition ran the risk of setting a precedent for all other projects in the future as it generalised it for all projects.

“To exempt such projects from audit would not be an appropriate thing to do,” PAC Chairman Rana Tanveer Hussain said.

JUI-F’s Shahida Akhtar Ali also cautioned not bringing it under audit procedure would become a precedent for all future projects. The audit must be conducted, she added.

Appreciating the completion of the Kartarpur project within a set timeframe, Senator Talha Mahmood said that he wanted to commend ex-CM Punjab Shehbaz Sharif’s Rawalpindi metro project, which he said was also completed within a very short period of time.

Secretary Defence Lt Gen (retd) Mian Hilal Hussain said that the Kartarpur project was completed within 10 months even though NESPAK gave the project timeline of 2.5 years. The defence secretary invited the committee to visit Kartarpur, saying the committee members can go for a technical audit of the project during their visit.

The committee was also told that a special audit was conducted of the project but neither was it discussed nor was it presented before the committee.

Meanwhile, PTI MNA Noor Alam Khan raised a few questions concerning the project's completion, questioning "how many laws were broken while completing the Kartarpur project and who was responsible for broken bridges and roads in Gwadar?"

He also questioned the quality of work at M1 and M2 motorways, saying there was not a single bump on these motorways in the past but now the quality and condition of work was “pathetic”.

On the revelation that FWO generals were also working on projects abroad, Noor said that the generals were hired to do their job at home and not for going abroad to complete projects. “Don’t you think we are exposing our general,” he questioned, “under what law they can work abroad”.

Referring to the broken bridges and roads in Gwadar, Noor asked the FWO officials about the accountability mechanism, saying public money was spent on the projects and every single penny must be accounted for. He also lamented that FWO officials overcharge and misbehave with people at the toll plazas.

PML-N’s Khawaja Asif lamented that the Sialkot-Lahore motorway (M-11) was also a substandard road and its surface was uneven.

Expressing concerns about the performance of NESPAK, PTI’s Munaza Hassan added that she gets nervous every time she hears NESPAK’s name attached to any project, especially after witnessing the condition of the Islamabad Airport project where NESPAK was the consultant.

Replying to the questions, the DG FWO while refraining to comment on projects abroad, said that FWO only looks after 1816km of the roads and the rest of the roads were with NHA, adding FWO only looks after Karachi-Hyderabad, Lahore-Islamabad, Lahore-Sialkot and Swat motorways and trying its best to ensure that there was no compromise on the quality of the roads.

While apologising for the misbehaviour of the FWO officials at toll plazas, he clarified that FWO doesn’t charge a single penny more than permitted under the law.

On broken bridges and roads in Gwadar, the DG recalled that he got a text message from the DG ISPR at midnight carrying a tweet showing a truck hanging half on the broken bridge and half in the air, saying he could not reveal what was stated in the tweet.

“Immediate comments,” was the text from the DG ISPR, he said, adding he started making calls from midnight and after an investigation of roughly three-to-four hours it emerged that FWO did not build the bridge that was broken due to rains and flood in Gwadar.

On reservations about NESPAK, he said that FWO followed what NESPAK said as the latter was the consultant in the project.

The Kartarpur project, spreading over 140 acres of land at the site where Baba Guru Nanak settled for 18 years for his missionary work and passed away, was completed with a cost of Rs16.546 billion in 10 months. It was started on November 28, 2018, and completed on October 31, 2019. Prime Minister Imran Khan had inaugurated it on November 9, 2019, on the 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak.

https://tribune.com.pk/story/2334986/pac-asked-to-exempt-projects-like-kartarpur-from-audit
 
Pakistan has categorically rejected the unwarranted and gratuitous remarks made by Indian Home Minister regarding the partition and location of Kartarpur Sahib in Pakistan.

In a statement, Foreign Office Spokesperson Asim Iftikhar reiterated Islamabad's serious concern over the BJP leadership’s increasing tendency of dragging Pakistan into its domestic affairs.

The Spokesperson said it is deeply regrettable that distortion of historical facts has become the hallmark of the BJP government along with its ideological fountainhead RSS.

He said the resort to such delusional thinking by the Indian leadership has been strikingly frequent over the last couple of months in the wake of the elections in several states in India.

He said such denial mentality or revisionism can neither change historical facts nor the established realities.

Radio Pakistan
 
Election rhetoric aside, the Indian government representatives have a habit of making statements that are further from the truth – be it anti-Pakistan propaganda or more recent claims that had Nardenra Modi been prime minister back in the day Kartarpur would have been part of India.

In a recently fiery election campaign speech, Indian Home Minister Amit Shah said that if the incumbent Indian premier had been the prime minister in 1947, Nankana Sahib and Kartarpur would have been part of India. The home minister’s statement is similar to ones which have been said in past election rallies to reinforce the Bharatiya Janata Party’s narrative of slinging mud at Pakistan to ramp up electoral support.

Dr Kalyan Singh Kalyan, who is the first Sikh professor at the Punjabi Department of Government College Lahore, expressing his disappointment at the statement said that the minister should be wary of making tall claims especially when even today the Sikh nation regrets its decision of 1947. “The treatment that Sikhs and other minorities have been dished out by the BJP-led government is horrific. The Sikh nation today strongly dislikes the Akalis whose elders joined India in 1947 instead of Pakistan and has rejected them through their votes. Therefore, Amit Shah’s statement is a joke.”

Dr Kalyan was of the view that if the Indian home minister has any doubt where Sikhs would stand today, he should look inward and realise how much the BJP’s hateful rhetoric has broken secular India. “The BJP’s policies cannot unite India; rather they promote violence against minorities which we have seen a rise in recent times,” he said.

Pakistani Sikh leader, Sardar Bishan Singh, reiterating Dr Kalyan’s sentiments that if Sikh leaders had not made a mistake in 1947, then Amritsar would have been part of Pakistan. “What has India done for the Sikhs that Amit Shah has made such a statement?” he inquired. Highlighting the plight of Sikhs in Pakistan’s neighbouring country, Sardar Bishan said that the Golden Temple, the holiest place of Sikhs in India was attacked, Indian army entered there with tanks, hundreds of innocent people were killed, and Sikhs were massacred in 1984.

“To date the Sikh Marriage Act has not been enacted in India,” Sardar Bishan said. “If their memory is weak, the treatment they subjected Sikh farmers in Punjab to last year is before us. So, Amit Shah should be ashamed of giving such a statement.”

Sardar Bishan Singh along with Sardar Amir Singh, Head of the Sikh Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee, which is the representative of Sikhs in Pakistan, said that they were lucky to live in Pakistan which was the birthplace of Guru Nanak Devji and his last resting place. Sardar Amir, rubbishing past claims by Amit Shah that the Modi government was responsible for the success of Kartarpur corridor, said that the whole world knows that the Kartarpur corridor came into being because of the efforts of the Pakistani government.

“The Modi government opened the corridor due to pressure from Sikhs all over the world and even now the Sikhs are prevented from coming to Pakistan through the corridor by various tricks and excuses. Amit Shah should compare the Sikhs living in India and Pakistan and see who is living more freely and refrain from making such ignorant statements,” Sardar Amir told The Express Tribune.

Express Tribune
 
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Sunday categorically rejected the "malicious Indian propaganda regarding the alleged use of the Kartarpur Corridor for business meetings".

In a statement, Foreign Office spokesperson Asim Iftikhar Ahmad said "it is obvious that this concoction is part of India’s deliberate smear campaign seeking to undermine Pakistan’s historic initiative of opening the Kartarpur Sahib Corridor for Sikh pilgrims from India and around the world".

He maintained that there is nothing new about India’s desperate bid to malign the corridor of peace and divert the world’s attention away from the grave injustices being done to its own minorities, especially Muslims, who are being targeted with impunity by “Hindu zealots” in utter disregard of all tenets of law and justice.

“Pakistan accords the highest primacy to the rights of the minorities. Sanctity of religious places and revered sites of every community is ensured in Pakistan.”

The spokesperson said that Pakistan had recently hosted over 2,000 Sikh pilgrims from India alone who were here to participate in the annual Baisakhi festival held from 12-21 April 2022.

“The Sikh community around the world has remained appreciative of Pakistan’s commitment to inclusivity, diversity and promotion of religious harmony,” he added.

Asim Iftikhar advised New Delhi to desist from "casting fallacious aspersions on the Kartarpur Corridor", which was a gift by the Government of Pakistan to the Sikh community, and instead focus on taking meaningful steps to effectively protect its own religious minorities and ensure the safety of their lives and places of worship.

GEO
 
On the occasion of Maharaja Ranjeet Singh's death anniversary, the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi issued 495 visas to Sikh pilgrims from India to attend the annual anniversary.

During the visit, the pilgrims would, inter alia, go to Panja Sahib, Nankana Sahib and Kartarpur Sahib. They would enter Pakistan on June 21 and return back to India on June 30, 2022.

The issuance of visas is covered under the framework of the Pakistan-India Protocol on Visits to Religious Shrines of 1974. Every year, a large number of Sikh Yatrees from India visit Pakistan to observe various religious festivals.

The visas issued from New Delhi are in addition to the visas granted to Sikh pilgrims participating in these events from other countries.

The issuance of pilgrimage visas to religious pilgrims by the high commission is in line with the Government of Pakistan’s commitment to fully implement the Bilateral Protocol on Visits to Religious Shrines between the two countries.

Expressing his views on the auspicious occasion, Charge d’Affaires Aftab Hasan Khan, extended his heartfelt felicitations to the pilgrims and wished them a rewarding and fulfilling yatra.

“Pakistan takes immense pride in preserving sacred religious places and providing necessary facilitation to the visiting pilgrims”, he added.

Express Tribune
 
A 12-member delegation of British Sikh soldiers – headed by Major General Celia J Harvey, Deputy Commander Field Army UK – visited the General Headquarters in Rawalpindi and met Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa, the military’s media wing said.

“Pakistan respects all religions and also recognises the need for promotion of religious tourism in the country,” Gen Bajwa was quoted as saying by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) on Tuesday.

Kartarpur corridor, he said, is the practical manifestation of Pakistan’s unwavering commitment towards religious freedom and harmony.

The delegation also visited Lahore where the dignitaries witnessed a flag-lowering ceremony at the Wagha border.

According to the ISPR, the British Sikh soldiers visited Lahore Fort, Allama Iqbal Mausoleum and Badshahi Mosque.

During their stay, the delegation visited several religious sites in the country which included Darbar Hazrat Mian Mir, Haveli Naunihal Singh, Gurdwara Janamasthan Guru Ram Das, Samadi Ranjeet Singh, Gudwara Dera Sahib, Kartarpur Corridor, Nankana Sahib and Dera Panja Sahib.

They also visited Orakzai District and witnessed Samana Fort, Lockhart Fort and Saragarhi Monument, the military’s media wing said.

It further said, “This was the place where 21 Sikh soldiers laid their lives in 1897 as part of British expedition and has much historical significance for Sikhs.”

The delegation laid a wreath at Saragarhi Monument. They also lauded the efforts of the Pakistan Armed Forces in bringing peace and normalcy to tribal districts.

Express Tribune
 
MenInG said:
A 12-member delegation of British Sikh soldiers – headed by Major General Celia J Harvey, Deputy Commander Field Army UK – visited the General Headquarters in Rawalpindi and met Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa, the military’s media wing said.

“Pakistan respects all religions and also recognises the need for promotion of religious tourism in the country,” Gen Bajwa was quoted as saying by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) on Tuesday.

Kartarpur corridor, he said, is the practical manifestation of Pakistan’s unwavering commitment towards religious freedom and harmony.

The delegation also visited Lahore where the dignitaries witnessed a flag-lowering ceremony at the Wagha border.

According to the ISPR, the British Sikh soldiers visited Lahore Fort, Allama Iqbal Mausoleum and Badshahi Mosque.

During their stay, the delegation visited several religious sites in the country which included Darbar Hazrat Mian Mir, Haveli Naunihal Singh, Gurdwara Janamasthan Guru Ram Das, Samadi Ranjeet Singh, Gudwara Dera Sahib, Kartarpur Corridor, Nankana Sahib and Dera Panja Sahib.

They also visited Orakzai District and witnessed Samana Fort, Lockhart Fort and Saragarhi Monument, the military’s media wing said.

It further said, “This was the place where 21 Sikh soldiers laid their lives in 1897 as part of British expedition and has much historical significance for Sikhs.”

The delegation laid a wreath at Saragarhi Monument. They also lauded the efforts of the Pakistan Armed Forces in bringing peace and normalcy to tribal districts.

Express Tribune
Click to expand...

Reconnaissance mission to retake the empire?

Interesting the Islamic Republic recognising a religion based on eradicating Islam. Hmm
 
British Sikh soldiers urge India, Pakistan to make Kartarpur a hub of cultural activities

LAHORE:
A 12-member delegation of British Sikh soldiers visited Pakistan this week, expressing their appreciation for its efforts to preserve the two most holy sites of Sikhism and other historical places related to Sikh religious leaders.

The two most revered shrines of the Sikh religion are Nankana Sahib, the place where Guru Nanak, the founder of the Sikh religion, was born, and Kartarpur, where he passed away while preaching and is located in Pakistan’s Punjab province.

In the first such visit, the delegation of British Sikh soldiers visited all of the important Sikh religious and historical sites in Pakistan.

"I am very grateful to the Pakistani military for facilitating this amazing visit for our Sikh soldiers, as for many of them, this could be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity," Maj. Gen. Celia J Harvey, the deputy commander of the UK’s field army and head of the delegation, told Anadolu Agency.

Pakistan opened the Kartarpur corridor on the occasion of Guru Nanak's 550th birthday in 2019. The corridor is a visa-free border crossing and state-of-the-art religious corridor which facilitates the entry of pilgrims from the Indian side.

In a message to the Indian Sikh community, Harvey said: "I will ask the Indian Sikh community to come here and see the facilitation. They can stay here, have food, and worship as much as they want, and this can be a model project to increase cultural harmony amongst people of both countries."

"I never imagined that this could be so amazing. While standing here in Kartarpur, I can say that this was nothing like I imagined, and I will always remember the warmth and friendliness of the people of this country," he added, appreciating Pakistan’s efforts to preserve Sikh religious sites.

The Indian province of Punjab shares 425 kilometers (264 miles) with the Pakistani province of Punjab. It was a united province till 1947 when the province was partitioned at the time of the independence of India and the birth of Pakistan.

Both sides of Punjab still share a similar culture and language called Punjabi.

Corporal Chamandeep Singh, a passionate musician, while discussing the culture and music of Punjab, said: "We are here for so many days, and it feels like home. We are not feeling as if we are in another country. Punjab in India and Pakistan are the same. We felt so happy when people here talked with us in Punjabi."

Coming from the Indian side for pilgrimage, a form has to be filled out on the website of the Ministry of Home Affairs of India, and then approval can take three to 14 days after a detailed verification.

Gobind Singh, the chief priest of the Kartarpur corridor, said: "The Pakistani government has increased the capacity of the visitors to 5,000 people per day. But due to the Indian government's restrictions and the long process of clearance, people are not able to come and visit the religious sites despite this being a visa-free facility. The Indian government should not use such tactics against the Sikh community."

During their visit, the Sikh soldiers also presented guidebooks on the Defense Sikh Network, an official organization representing Sikhs within the UK Ministry of Defense.

After completing their four-day trip to Punjab, the delegation traveled to Islamabad and visited the British High Commission and other religious sites of Sikhism including Gurudwara Janam Asthan Nankana Sahib, and Gurudwara Dera Sahib as well as Lahore Fort, the Wagah border, the Saragarhi Monument, Fort Lockhart and Samana Fort located in the tribal areas of the northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.

The delegation also visited the Pakistan Military Academy and met Army Staff Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa and thanked him for warmly hosting the delegation for the historic visit.

https://tribune.com.pk/story/236433...o-make-kartarpur-a-hub-of-cultural-activities
 
PM Narendra Modi built Kartarpur corridor says Union Home Minister Amit Shah at Ludhiana rally

PTI
 

1719420202497.png​

​

Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s statue permanently installed at Kartarpur​


The statue of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, the first Sikh ruler of Punjab, has been permanently installed at Gurdwara Kartarpur Sahib. The statue had been housed at the gurdwara for the past year.

Punjab's Minister for Minority Affairs and Chairman of the Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee, Sardar Ramesh Singh Arora, along with officials from the PMU Kartarpur and Sikh pilgrims from India, attended the installation ceremony.

Sardar Ramesh Singh Arora emphasised the importance of protecting the statue. “The restored statue has been installed at Kartarpur Sahib so that Sikh pilgrims and general tourists from the Kartarpur Corridor and around the world can view it,” he said. He also mentioned that the restoration of Maharaja Ranjit Singh's samadhi in Lahore would commence soon.

The statue was originally installed at Lahore's Shahi Qila in June 2019 to mark the 180th anniversary of Maharaja Ranjit Singh's death. However, it was vandalised three times by extremists. The bronze statue, weighing between 250 and 350 kg, was initially placed in front of Rani Jindan’s haveli in the fort.

Gifted by Sikh historian Bobby Singh Bansal, President of the UK's SK Foundation, the statue depicts Maharaja Ranjit Singh riding his Arabian horse, 'Kehar Bahar'. It was crafted under the supervision of Faqir Saifuddin, Director of Faqir Khana Museum.

Despite repairs, the statue faced repeated attacks, with significant damage occurring in September and December 2020, and again in August 2021. The Walled City of Lahore Authority repaired the statue but hesitated to reinstall it due to the risk of further vandalism. Consequently, the statue was moved to Gurdwara Darbar Sahib Kartarpur in December 2023, where it had been placed near the Kartarpur Darshan Point for the past year.

Gurdwara Kartarpur Sahib attracts Sikh pilgrims from India and worldwide, along with other tourists. Currently, Sikh pilgrims from various countries, including India, are in Pakistan to commemorate the 185th anniversary of Maharaja Ranjit Singh's death, with a ceremony scheduled for June 29 in Lahore.

Maharaja Ranjit Singh conquered Lahore in the early 19th century and ruled Punjab for 40 years, promoting religious tolerance. Despite accusations of damaging Mughal-era buildings, his reign is noted for the inclusion of several Muslim ministers in his administration.

https://tribune.com.pk/story/247428...manently-installed-at-kartarpur?firebase=true
 
Pakistan, India renew Kartarpur Corridor agreement for five years

Pakistan and India have renewed their agreement to facilitate pilgrimages through the Kartarpur Corridor for another five years, the Foreign Office said on Tuesday.

The FO announced that the agreement, originally signed on October 24, 2019, allows for the facilitation of Indian pilgrims visiting Gurudwara Darbar Sahib Kartarpur in Narowal, Pakistan.

The initial agreement was set to expire this Thursday.

The renewal of the agreement reflects Pakistan’s ongoing commitment to promoting interfaith harmony and peaceful coexistence. It continues to provide visa-free access for Indian pilgrims, allowing them to visit the sacred Gurudwara, where Baba Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikhism, spent his final days.

Since its establishment, the Kartarpur Corridor has enabled thousands of worshippers to visit this sacred site, the Foreign Office stated.

The corridor fulfills the long-held desires of the Sikh community for access to one of their most significant religious landmarks and demonstrates Pakistan’s commitment to protecting the rights of religious minorities.

The initiative has garnered widespread acclaim from the international community, with United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres referring to it as a “corridor of hope.”

Indian Minister for External Affairs Subrahmanyam Jaishankar also commented on the matter, stating on social media that “Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government will continue to facilitate our Sikh community’s access to their holy sites.”

For nearly 30 million Sikhs worldwide, Kartarpur is considered one of their holiest places. When Pakistan was created from colonial India during the 1947 independence from Britain, Kartarpur ended up on the western side of the border, while most Sikhs from the region remained in India.


AAJ News
 

Sikh pilgrims can now visit Pakistan without visa fees​


In a welcoming gesture for Sikh pilgrims, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif-led Pakistani government has announced that it will waive visa fees for visitors from the Sikh community.

This decision was revealed by Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi during a meeting with a delegation of 44 Sikh pilgrims who arrived from the United States on Thursday.

During the meeting at the State Guest House, Naqvi extended a warm welcome to the pilgrims and emphasized the availability of a visa-on-arrival option for Sikh pilgrims holding US passports.

He reassured the delegation that they would encounter no difficulties in obtaining their visas, which can be processed within just half an hour upon arrival at the airport.

Naqvi stated, “If you have a passport, just close your eyes and come,” highlighting the government’s commitment to facilitating their visit. He encouraged the pilgrims to explore significant religious sites such as Hassan Abdal, Nankana Sahib, and Kartarpur, promising that any challenges they may face would be swiftly addressed.

Furthermore, the minister expressed the government’s eagerness to accommodate visitors for major cricket events, including the Champions Trophy and matches between Pakistan and India.

A special quota has been reserved for Sikh pilgrims and visitors from India.

Sikh community members with passports from the US, Canada, and the UK can easily complete an online application to obtain their visa within 30 minutes.

The government aims to host one million Sikh pilgrims annually and has also extended visa-free entry to citizens from 124 countries.

www.samaa.tv

Sikh pilgrims can now visit Pakistan without visa fees

The Pakistani government has announced a waiver of visa fees for Sikh pilgrims, ensuring a hassle-free travel experience. Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi welcomed a delegation from the U.S., confirming that visas can be obtained within half an hour upon arrival. With a focus on facilitating...
www.samaa.tv www.samaa.tv
 
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