First phase of Kartarpur Corridor project completed

In second phase, for which a date has not been announced, hotels and shopping malls will be built

LAHORE: The first phase of the construction of Kartarpur Corridor project and renovation of Gurdwara Darbar Sahib Kartarpur, which is the world’s largest Sikh shrine, has been completed.

Kartarpur Corridor is all set to be inaugurated by Prime Minister Imran Khan on November 9. In the second phase, for which a date has not been announced as yet, hotels and shopping malls will be constructed.

Pakistan, India ink historic Kartarpur Corridor pact

Gurdwara Sahib Administrator Sardar Gobind Singh said: “I don’t know how to express my happiness in words. Gurdwara Sahib has been expanded and the corridor is being opened during the service period of my family.”

PHOTO: EXPRESS

A green flag, which stretches 150 feet high, has been hoisted near the immigration centre. Buses will be ready to receive Indian guests from the border. Scanners, for checking luggage, have also been installed at the gates of Gurdwara Sahib.

Pakistan laid the foundation stone of the Kartarpur Corridor project on November 28, 2018, and the first phase of Kara (Siva) was completed a year ago.

Gurdwara Darbar Sahib Kartarpur is also known as Gurdwara Kartarpur. Its building has been painted white and white stones have been used in the courtyard while the finishing has been done in gold. The religious beliefs of the Sikh community and customary Sikh structures have been taken into account while designing the building of the Gurdwara Kartarpur.

The Kartapur Corridor project will also have a tent village to cater to 10,000 pilgrims.

Meanwhile, the Mehman Khana can house over 700 pilgrims if they intend to stay the night. For the facilitation of pilgrims, a medical emergency centre and kiosk area has also been built.

The original building of Gurdwara Darbar Sahib Kartarpur was destroyed in the floods. The present building was constructed between 1920 and 1929 at a cost of Rs165,060 by Maharaja Sardar Phobinder Singh of Patiala. Later, it was renovated by the Pakistan government in 1995.

175 pilgrims reach Lahore

To participate in the celebrations of the 550th birth anniversary of Baba Guru Nanak Devji, over 175 Sikh pilgrims reached Lahore from London on Sunday morning.

The national flag carrier had made special arrangements for the passengers at Allama Iqbal International Airport. Lahore Airport Station Manager Ali Asghar Zaidi and Athar Awan welcomed the pilgrims at the airport lounge and presented flowers, juice and water bottles to them.

PHOTO: EXPRESS

The Sikh pilgrims appreciated the national flag carrier for extending a warm welcome. They underscored that the incumbent Pakistan government had won the hearts of the entire Sikh community by opening Kartarpur Corridor.

A couple of days ago, over 1,100 Sikh pilgrims along with a gold-made 'palki', which will be installed at Kartapur, reached Lahore from India. They visited Gurdwara Janamasthan, Nankana Sahib and performed their religious rituals. The Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB) had made special arrangements for the security and accommodation of Sikh pilgrims near the Gurdwara and had also renovated it.

As per media reports, Initially Indian authorities denied border crossing to the bus carrying the golden 'palki'  at Attari Border. However, upon refusal by the Indian authorities, the Sikh pilgrims carried the golden 'palki' on their shoulders along with Guru Granth Sahib and entered Pakistan via Wagha border crossing.

Governor Punjab Chaudhry Muhammad Sarwar, alongside ETPB officials, Rangers and Pakistani Sikh leadership welcomed the 'Nagar Kirtan' and 'Palki' Sahib on Pakistani side of the border.

The Sikh pilgrims condemned the Indian decision to deny permission to the holy bus to enter Pakistan, saying the interior of the bus had been decorated as a Gurdwara.



On Saturday, a seven-member delegation of Sikh pilgrims reached Multan from Canada by bus. After completing a long journey of one and-a-half month, they reached Kartarpur and Nankana Sahib to perform their religious rituals.

A Sikh pilgrim, Siljeet Singh, said Prime Minister Imran Khan and Punjab Governor Chaudhry Muhammad Sarwar had done what they had promised to the Sikh community.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 4^th, 2019.