Pakistan firm on $20 fee per pilgrim as it sends draft Kartarpur proposal to India 

Pakistan has reverted on the Indian draft on Kartarpur Corridor by sending its own proposal but refused to budge on the thorny issue of $20 fee per pilgrim, against which New Delhi had voiced its concern in the last India-Pakistan officials meet in early September. 

India has confirmed receiving the proposal from Pakistan to WION. The proposal was sent on Friday by the Pakistan government to Indian high commission, according to sources in Islamabad to WION. 

The draft agreement says the two countries will exchange of list of pilgrims 10 days prior to they crossing over through the corridor with Islamabad then vetting the names at least four days prior to these pilgrims coming to Pakistan through the corridor.

In case of agreement on the draft, both sides are expected to sign a deal at a ceremony which could take place at the Wagah – Attari border or at the Zero Point of Dera Baba Nanak.

Pakistan and India have held three rounds of formal talks on the Kartarpur Corridor’s draft agreement whereas the at-least four times technical level experts have met to discuss the nitty-gritty of the project.

The Kartarpur Corridor remained a long-standing demand of the Sikh community in India. Both Pakistan and Indian side began working on their respective sides for the Kartarpur Corridor. The corridor will be visa-free for Indian pilgrims entering from India into Pakistan, first of its kind between the two countries.

Both sides plan to open the corridor, which was agreed upon last year in early November. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the Indian side of the corridor on November 8.