India, Pakistan extend Sri Kartarpur Sahib Corridor pact for five years in boost to Sikh pilgrimage

India’s foreign ministry said Tuesday (Oct 22) that an agreement has been reached with Pakistan to extend the validity of the pact on Sri Kartarpur Sahib Corridor for another five years. The first agreement was signed back in October 2019 for five years to facilitate the visit of Sikh pilgrims from India to Gurdwara Darbar Sahib Kartarpur through the Kartarpur Sahib Corridor.

India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said, “the extension of the validity of this Agreement will ensure uninterrupted operation of the Corridor for use by the pilgrims from India to visit the holy Gurdwara in Pakistan.”

More than 110,670 Indian nationals and holders of Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) cards have used the corridor since its inauguration in November 2019, according to figures provided by the government in parliament in mid-2022.

The corridor was opened in time The corridor was opened to mark the 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak, fulfilling a long-standing demand of Indian citizens to have easy and smooth access to the gurdwara.

To facilitate visits by Indians, Pakistan built infrastructure, including a highway from the town of Dera Baba Nanak to Zero Point on the border, while India constructed an integrated check post on its side.