New Delhi, November 1: Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on Friday made a few important announcements for Indian Sikhs visiting Gurdwara Darbar Sahib through the Kartarpur Corridor. In a tweet, Imran Khan announced that Indian Sikhs on the pilgrimage will not be needing a passport. They will be allowed to visit Gurdwara Darbar Sahib on a valid identity card. Sikhs need not register themselves 10 days prior to their visit to the pilgrimage site in Pakistan. Navjot Singh Sidhu Accepts Pakistan PM Imran Khan’s Invitation to Kartarpur Corridor Inauguration Ceremony.

"For Sikhs coming for pilgrimage to Kartarpur from India, I've 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. The Pakistani Prime Minister also said that on November 9, Kartarpur Corridor's inaugural day, and on November 12 which marks the 550th birth anniversary celebrations of Guru Nanak Dev, pilgrims won't have to pay any fee to visit Gurdwara Darbar Sahib. Kartarpur Corridor Talks: Pakistan Postpones Bridge Construction Till Guru Nanak Dev's 550th Birth Anniversary.

Imran Khan's Tweet:

Khan laid the foundation stone of the Kartarpur Corridor on November 28, 2018. In India, Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu and Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh laid the foundation stone of the religious corridor opening of which was a long-pending demand of the Sikh community. The religious corridor is being inaugurated as part of the 550th anniversary celebrations of the founder of the Sikh faith whose teachings are universal.

India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address a public gathering at Dera Baba Nanak in Gurdaspur district after inauguration of the Kartarpur Corridor on November 9. India and Pakistan signed an agreement to operationalise the historic Kartarpur Corridor to allow Indian Sikh pilgrims a visa-free visit to the holy Darbar Sahib in Pakistan. However, the ticklish issue of a $20 service fee imposed by Islamabad remained unresolved.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Nov 01, 2019 08:47 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).