New Delhi: In a major improvement aimed toward boosting pilgrimage, Pakistan is reportedly considering the discount of service prices from USD 20 to encourage extra Sikh pilgrims to go to the revered Gurdwara Darbar Sahib by way of the Kartarpur Hall. The Prime Minister’s Workplace of Pakistan has sought inputs and suggestions from the nation’s overseas and inside ministries on this matter.
Gurudwara Sri Kartarpur Sahib is deeply revered in Sikhism as the ultimate resting place of Guru Nanak Dev Ji, the founder and first Guru of Sikhism. Situated about 5 kilometers from the Indo-Pak border in Pakistan, this web site has lengthy been a beacon for devotees worldwide.
The Kartarpur Hall, a landmark initiative inaugurated on November 9, 2019, by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi after which Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan, was designed to facilitate simpler entry for pilgrims. Regardless of its significance and potential, the hall has witnessed a median day by day footfall of fewer than 200 pilgrims, significantly under the anticipated 5,000.
Addressing this problem, Pakistan’s Public Affairs Unit (PAU) of the Prime Minister’s Workplace is reviewing strategies from Ramesh Singh Arora, MPA (NM370). Key amongst these suggestions is the proposal to increase the visiting hours for Indian ‘Yatrees’ (pilgrims) to a full 24 hours, slightly than the present dawn-to-dusk schedule. Furthermore, there is a robust push to rethink the USD 20 entry payment levied on Indian pilgrims. The PAU has requested viewpoints from its overseas, inside, and monetary ministries concerning these adjustments.
Though no visa is required to make use of the Kartarpur Hall, the need to report passport particulars stays a barrier for a lot of Indians with out passports. Harjinder Singh Dhami, the President of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), has referred to as for extra than simply the elimination of the USD 20 service payment for Sikh pilgrims visiting the Gurdwara Darbar Sahib through the Kartarpur Hall.
He’s additionally advocating for India and Pakistan to waive the passport requirement for utilizing the hall, highlighting that a good portion of Punjab’s residents don’t possess passports. He additional stated,” The choice, which nonetheless awaits finalization, might mark an essential step in facilitating simpler and extra reasonably priced entry to one in all Sikhism’s most sacred websites.”
Initially, Pakistan had claimed that they’ve spent PKR 16.2 billion on creating the Gurdwara Kartarpur Sahib Hall Undertaking. In return for the service cost, Pakistan provided Indian pilgrims complimentary shuttle providers, free meals (langar), medical services, safety, and administrative assist. This service cost, nevertheless, has been a topic of rivalry stated Pakistan in an settlement with India.
In 2019, Amarinder Singh, then Chief Minister of Punjab, India, criticized the service cost, evaluating it to “Jaziya” – a historic tax levied on non-Muslims. Ramesh Singh Arora, echoing comparable issues, steered that the payment needs to be revised: a household needs to be charged a collective payment of USD 20 slightly than a person payment for every member. He additionally proposed a quarter-fee for frequent guests, topic to approval from the related Pakistani ministries.
Maninder Singh Sirsa, Nationwide Secretary, BJP whereas speaking to ZEE Information stated, “Charging payment for the holy pilgrimage has left many Sikh devotees dismayed, we’ve been constantly urged Pakistan that they need to not levy such a payment on the pilgrims to Kartrapur Sahib.”
India and Pakistan opened the Kartarpur Hall on November 9, 2019, coinciding with the 550th Gurpurab of Guru Nanak Dev, it’s learnt that Pakistan could cut back the Service prices on the Parkash Purb anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev on Nov 27 this yr.
Vikramjit Singh Sahney, a member of the Rajya Sabha, lately highlighted these points, urging the Authorities of India to debate and negotiate the service cost and different associated issues with Pakistan. This potential discount in service prices and the extension of visiting hours might considerably improve the pilgrimage expertise for Sikh devotees, fostering higher spiritual and cultural alternate between India and Pakistan, says Sahney.
