LAHORE:
The Gurdwara Darbar Sahib Kartarpur, temporarily closed during recent heavy rains and flooding, will reopen from Saturday (tomorrow).
According to the Kartarpur Project Management Unit (KPMU), heavy rains and subsequent flooding had caused waterlogging inside the premises, leading to the precautionary closure of the shrine.
Authorities confirmed that after extensive cleaning and repair works, the Gurdwara is now ready to welcome visitors again. Initially, however, entry will be restricted to families only to prevent overcrowding and ensure smooth facilitation by staff.
Despite the reopening, Sikh pilgrims from India remain unable to travel through the Kartarpur Corridor, as the Indian government has not yet permitted its citizens to travel on this route. This restriction has caused disappointment among Sikhs in India as well as around the world.
The development comes just ahead of the death anniversary of Baba Guru Nanak, scheduled for September 22, which annually draws thousands of Sikh devotees. This year, Indian pilgrims will not be able to attend the anniversary. According to the Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (PSGPC), a large number of Pakistani Sikhs will participate, alongside pilgrims from countries including the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom.
Federal Secretary for Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony, Dr. Atta-ur-Rehman; Chairman of the Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB), Dr. Sajid Mehmood Chauhan; PSGPC President, Sardar Ramesh Singh Arora; and Additional Secretary Shrines Nasir Mushtaq are scheduled to hold a press conference on Saturday. They are expected to brief on the preparations made for Baba Guru Nanak’s anniversary, the post-flood restoration efforts at Kartarpur, and Pakistan’s concerns over India’s restrictions on Sikh pilgrims.
It is worth mentioning that the Kartarpur Corridor and the expanded gurdwara complex were inaugurated in 2019, allowing Sikh pilgrims from India to visit Darbar Sahib through Kartarpur Corridor without a visa and return the same day. However, following heightened tensions between Pakistan and India, New Delhi suspended the use of the corridor for its citizens, a ban that continues to this day.