India has decided to go ahead with the Kartarpur agreement keeping the Sikh pilgrims’ sentiments in mind.Now both India and Pakistan are prepared to sign the agreement on on 23rd October.As government of Pakistan has been insisting on levying the $20 (Rs 1,420) fee on the Kartarpur Sahib Gurdwara pilgrims from India, it is expected to earn up to Indian Rs 258 crore per annum — about Pakistani Rs 571 crore — from pilgrims visiting Darbar Sahib in Kartarpur, the final resting place of founder of Sikhism Shri Guru Nanak Dev.
As per report, though the service fee from the pilgrims will be another source of foreign currency generation for Pakistan, but Pakistan claims this sum will be spent for the maintenance of the corridor.
On Saturday union minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal criticized Pakistan in her twitter handle for demanding USD 20 as service charge from Indian pilgrims to visit the Kartarpur Sahib Gurdwara. She said Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan’s “$20 fee for the Kartarpur visit will boost the economy” of the country was “highly shameful”. She also attacked Pakistan for “making a business out of faith”.
As Pakistan will allow 5,000 pilgrims to visit the gurdwara Darbar Saheb Kartarpur per day, Pakistan will earn USD 1,00,000 every day.
Considering Monday’s rate of Indian Rs 70.95 for one USD, Pakistan is going to earn Indian Rs 70.95 lakh every day. Since rate of Pakistani currency is Rs 156.46 for one USD, the per day earning will be Rs 1.56 crore in Pakistani rupees
As the pilgrimage will be allowed all through the year, Pakistan will earn USD 3,65,00,000.In Indian currency it will be Rs 258 crore where as in Pakistani it is Rs 571 crore, as the report said.
In the beginning India had wanted Pakistan to allow 10,000 pilgrims every day. Later on, it was decided that 5,000 pilgrims will be allowed. Pakistan also agreed to open the shrine not only to Sikhs, but for people belonging to all faiths.
