Imran Khan Shares Picture Of Kartarpur Shrine; Says 'Ready To Welcome Sikh Pilgrims'

Khan shared some captivating pictures of the Kartarpur complex and Gurdwara Darbar Sahib and said Kartarpur was ready to welcome the Sikh pilgrims from India to mark the 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev.

Image tweeted by Imran Khan

New Delhi: Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan shared some captivating pictures of the Kartarpur complex and Gurdwara Darbar Sahib and said Kartarpur was ready to welcome the Sikh pilgrims from India to mark the 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev. "Kartarpur ready to welcome Sikh pilgrims," he tweeted. In a series of tweets, Khan said, "I want to congratulate our government for readying Kartarpur, in record time, for Guru Nanak Jee's 550th birthday celebrations.” This comes ahead of the planned inauguration of the Kartarpur corridor on November 9. The year 2019 marks the 550th birth anniversary year of Sikhism founder Guru Nanak Dev, whose birthplace is Sri Nankana Sahib in Pakistan. On Friday, Khan announced waiving conditions of carrying a passport for identification and prior registration for the visitors. It also exempted the Indian pilgrims from paying a $20 entry fee on the day of inauguration of the corridor and Guru Nanak Dev's birthday. "For Sikhs coming for pilgrimage to Kartarpur from India, I have waived off 2 requirements: i) they won't need a passport -- just a valid ID; ii) they no longer have to register 10 days in advance," Khan tweeted. "Also, no fee will be charged on day of inauguration and on Guruji's 550th birthday," he added. The announcement comes amid India’s repeated condemnation of the USD 20 service charge proposed by Pakistan on Indian pilgrims. Last week, India and Pakistan signed the much-awaited agreement for operationalizing Kartarpur Corridor on "zero lines" on the border, just weeks ahead of the 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev. The Kartarpur Corridor will connect the Dera Baba Nanak shrine in India's Punjab with Darbar Sahib at Kartarpur, just 4 kilometres from the International Border, located at Narowal district of Pakistan's Punjab province. The agreement will allow 5,000 Indian pilgrims daily to visit Gurdwara Darbar Sahib where Guru Nanak spent last 18 years of his life.