A report published by Dawn claims that Pakistan will provide Sikh organisations with land to construct hotels in Kartarpur, Nankana Sahib and Narowal. Additionally, the Pakistani government will also build a new railway station in Kartarpur.
The announcement from the Federal Minister for Railways, Sheikh Rashid Ahmed, comes days before Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan is scheduled to lay the foundation stone for the Kartarpur Corridor between India and Pakistan. Earlier, a cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi had approved the construction of the corridor.
The report says that Pakistan Railways has offered 10 acres of land each in Kartarpur and Nankana, and five acres in Narowal to Sikhs’ organisations. This land is to be used for the construction of high-end hotels, ensuring the comfort of the pilgrims.
Upgrading And Revamping Railway Stations
Hostels will also be constructed near all Sikh pilgrimage sites and trains would run from Nankana Sahib to Kartarpur, according to the report.
The minister said that the Imran Khan government was investing millions to revamp and upgrade Hassanabdal and Narowal railway stations. The Pakistan government, he added, wants to ensure that the pilgrims have a hassle free journey.
He also apologised to Indian Sikh pilgrims for the inconvenience caused by the shortage of coaches in special trains, due to which the journey from Nankana Sahib to Panja Sahib was delayed.
The Katarpur Corridor involves a road link that will connect India to the famous Kartarpur Sahib Gurdwara in Pakistan, where Guru Nanak Dev is said to have spent 18 years.
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