Kartarpur Row: Pakistan to Add Religious Tourism Category to Online Visa

Islamabad, September 6: Pakistan's Interior Ministry has decided to add a religious tourism category to the online visa system for Sikh pilgrims looking to apply for visas to visit Kartarpur, it emerged on Friday. Guru Nanak 550th Birth Anniversary: Lahore Museum Holds First-Ever Sikh Exhibition.

According to a report in Dawn newspaper, a meeting of the Ministry decided that two separate categories of visa applications will be entertained -- one would be for Sikh pilgrims of Indian origin living elsewhere in the world while the other would be for Sikh pilgrims holding a residence permit from another country along with an Indian passport.

All visa requests from both categories for Kartarpur pilgrimages will be processed within 7 to 10 working days, according to the report. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will collaborate with the National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra) to come up with a standard operating procedure for visitors issued visas under the religious tourism category.

An amendment in the policy to make room for the above mentioned steps will be be sought from the Cabinet, Dawn said. Islamabad has repeatedly assured the Sikh community that the Kartarpur corridor on the Pakistan side will be opened by November on the occasion of the 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak. Sikhs Launch Massive Protest Outside Pakistan Embassy in New Delhi, Burn Effigy Against Forced Conversions.

The two countries have already agreed on visa-free travel for 5,000 Indian pilgrims daily throughout the year, without restrictions, based on their faith. Persons of Indian origin holding Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) cards too can visit Gurudwara Kartarpur Sahib using the corridor.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 06, 2019 08:54 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).