Passport-free entry to Kartarpur corridor likely on the cards

Pakistan is considering the proposal of allowing passport-free entry for Indian entering the Kartarpur corridor in a move to boost tourist arrival to Gurdwara Darbar Sahib. Pakistan’s National Assembly was recently informed about this proposal.

Media reports state that recently, during the Question Hour, Interior Minister Ijaz Shah told the National Assembly that passport-free entry of pilgrims was not currently allowed as per the pact signed between Pakistan and India. He added that a proposal for providing entry without a passport to attract more visitors was under consideration; detailed input needs to be sought from the Foreign Affairs Ministry for the same.
He also mentioned that the Indian visitors had to pass through a combination of electronic and physical security systems by the Pakistan Rangers (Punjab) along with other law-enforcement agencies. He added that the visitors are strictly kept inside the gurdwara complex by using turnstile gates to avoid their movement towards the Pakistani side, and that all activities in and around the corridor are monitored through surveillance cameras.

The Kartarpur Corridor was opened last year in November to connect the Indian Border with Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Kartarpur, located 4.7 km inside Pakistan. Till now, the corridor has been facilitating the entry of Indian pilgrims to travel to the said gurdwara without a visa and, then, return on the same day.