Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan’s government has earmarked Rs 100 crore in the federal budget 2019-20 for the development of the much-awaited Kartarpur corridor.
The corridor will connect Darbar Sahib in Pakistan’sKartarpur with Dera Baba Nanak shrine in India’s Gurdaspur district andfacilitate visa-free movement of Indian Sikh pilgrims, who will have to justobtain a permit to visit Kartarpur Sahib, which was established in 1522 by GuruNanak Dev.
The funds will be used for land acquisition and developmentof infrastructure of Kartarpur under Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP)for the next financial year 2019-20, Geo TV reported.
According to the data released by Planning Commission,Ministry of Planning, Development and Reforms, the estimated cost of theproject is Rs 300 crore for the Ministry of Religious Affairs and InterfaithHarmony.
Pakistan will build the corridor from the Indian border tothe GurdwaraDarbar Sahib in Kartarpur while the other part from Dera Baba Nanakin Indian Punjab’s Gurdaspur district up to the border will be constructed byIndia.
According to officials, some 50 per cent of the developmentwork on the four-kilometre stretch being built by Pakistan has been completed.On November 26 last year, Vice PresidentVenkaiah Naidu laid the foundation stone of the Dera Baba Nanak – KartarpurSahib Corridor (up to the International Border) at an event at Mann village ofGurdaspur district of Punjab.