Economic challenges prompt Pakistan to impose $5 entry fee on foreign pilgrims to Kartarpur
The decision to charge a five dollar fee for Sikh pilgrims who have obtained visas for Pakistan and arrived via routes other than the Kartarpur Corridor has raised eyebrows among the Pakistani government.
Kartarpur Gurudwara Sahib Fee Walk: In response to the economic challenges facing the country, Pakistan has introduced new fees for pilgrims visiting Kartarpur Gurudwara Sahib. The sudden increase in fees has put the Pakistani government in the crosshairs and raised major concerns within the Sikh community. As per the current update, foreign pilgrims traveling to Kartarpur will now have to purchase a ticket after paying a fee of five dollars to visit Kartarpur Gurdwara.
The decision has sparked a backlash, especially as Pakistan was already charging Indian pilgrims a fee of $20 to visit Gurudwara Kartarpur through the corridor. While it is seen as an attempt to address economic pressures in Pakistan, questions have been raised about the impact on the country’s commitment to providing free access to the Gurdwaras within its borders.
Rajinder Singh Mehta, general secretary of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbhandhak Committee (SGPC), expressed concerns about imposing compensation on religious sentiments. He stated: “It is not appropriate to impose any kind of tax on one’s religious feelings. Any compensation imposed by Pakistan on the Kartarpur Corridor is inherently wrong. Adding another $5 to the ticket is also an unfair action. While it is true that Pakistan built the Kartarpur Corridor, imposing service taxes on religious pilgrimages, including visits to Gurdwara, goes against the traditions and beliefs of the Sikhs.”
The SGPC, as the largest body representing Sikhs, oversees the affairs of the Sikh community and its religious affairs.
Inaugurated in 2019, the Kartarpur Corridor was celebrated as a historic step towards promoting goodwill between India and Pakistan. The corridor will allow Sikh pilgrims from India to visit the revered Kartarpur Gurudwara Sahib in Pakistan without the need for a visa. However, India and several Sikh organizations have repeatedly urged Pakistan to withdraw the $20 service charge on the corridor.
The decision to charge a five dollar fee for Sikh pilgrims who have obtained visas for Pakistan and arrived via routes other than the Kartarpur Corridor has raised eyebrows among the Pakistani government. Harpreet Singh, a US citizen, expressed frustration over Pakistan’s decision to impose a $5 entry fee to visit Gurdwara Kartarpur Sahib. He said: “It is strange that on the one hand, the Pakistani government has promoted its promises for religious tourism, and on the other hand, has imposed tickets for visiting religious places on the Sikhs. It is not acceptable.”
Sources, on the other hand, suggest that proponents of the fees argue that Pakistan’s economic challenges necessitate alternative sources of revenue. They believe that the fees can contribute to the maintenance and development of the Kartarpur Corridor and its facilities.
Reports indicate that Pakistani citizens traveling to Kartarpur for the project will also have to pay a fee. According to sources, individuals from Pakistan have to pay 400 Pakistani Rupees per person if they visit Kartarpur.
It is pertinent to mention that MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi recently, while answering a question, said that the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has consistently raised concerns about Pakistan over the imposition of $20 fee and the requirement of a mandatory passport for entry to the Kartarpur corridor. It is significant to note that even after the completion of four years since the opening of the Kartarpur Corridor, the number of pilgrims using the corridor averages around 200 per day, which is less than the expected 5,000 pilgrims.
As discussions surrounding the imposition of fees on Kartarpur pilgrims continue, the Sikh community and religious enthusiasts around the world are closely watching developments, hoping that economic challenges will not compromise the sanctity and accessibility of religious sites to take.