India and Pakistan have agreed to extend the Kartarpur Corridor agreement, which allows Indian citizens to visit the Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Pakistan without a visa. This corridor holds special significance as it is located where Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikhism, spent his last years. The agreement, originally signed in October 2019, was set to expire but will now continue for another five years.
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The Indian government has requested that Pakistan stop charging the $20 service fee for each Indian pilgrim using the corridor. Many pilgrims have asked for this charge to be removed, but Pakistan continues to levy it. India hopes this fee can be eliminated to make the pilgrimage more accessible for all.
Since its inauguration in November 2019, over 110,670 Indian nationals have used the corridor, and the extension will ensure uninterrupted access for future visitors. The corridor was built to meet the long-standing request of Indian citizens for easy access to the holy site.