Pakistan PM Imran Khan hopeful of 'foreign exchange' earning from Kartarpur Sahib Gurudwara
New Delhi, Oct 20 (UNI) Even as India continues to maintain that 'no fees' should be charged on pilgrims visiting Kartarpur Sahib Gurudwara, Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on Sunday expressed hope that the pilgrim site will become a major religious hub for the Sikhs and "will boost the local economy and result in earning foreign exchange".
"Pakistan is all set to open its doors for Sikhs from all across the globe, as the construction work on Kartarpur project enters final stages and will be open to public on 9th November, 2019," Mr Khan wrote in a Facebook post.
He said: "World’s largest Gurdwara will be visited by Sikhs from across India and other parts of the World. This will become a major religious hub for the Sikh community, and will boost the local economy, result in earning foreign exchange for the country creating jobs in different sectors including travel and hospitality".
Pakistan Prime Minister also wrote: "Religious Tourism is on the rise in Pakistan, earlier Buddhist monks visited various sites for religious rituals followed by opening of Kartarpur corridor".
India on Thursday stuck to its ground that Pakistan needs to give up its stand on levying a fee of USD 20 on pilgrims visiting Kartarpur Sahib Gurudwara and said broad agreement on all other issues have been reached.
"After several rounds of discussion with Pakistan, we have reached an agreement on all other issues, except the matter of Service Fee. Pakistan insists on levying a fee of USD 20 (approx. Rs. 1420) on all pilgrims. We have urged Pakistan not to do so in the interests of devotees, and also because this is a people to people initiative," MEA spokesman Raveesh Kumar has said in response to queries from the media.
Meanwhile, sources said former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh would visit the historic shrine as a common pilgrim but would not attend the 'formal inauguration' - which is likely to be addressed by Pakistan Prime Minister Mr Khan.
Dr Singh would be a part of Sikh Jatha delegation led by Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh and the group is likely to return the same day.
Indian government has said that the Kartarpur Sahib Corridor is an important 'people to people' initiative taken by India to commemorate the 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Devji.
Indian is building the corridor from Dera Baba Nanak in Punjab's Gurdaspur district up to the border while Pakistan has pledged to build the corridor from the border to the Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Kartarpur.
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