Pakistan invites Jathedar Akal Takht and SGPC chief to visit Kartarpur

Almost thirteen months after the suspension of Kartarpur Sahib pilgrimage via Kartarpur Corridor, the Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (PSGPC) has extended an official invitation to the Jathedar of Akal Takht Giani Harpreet Singh and Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) president Bibi Jagir Kaur to visit Gurdwara Darbar Sahib, Kartarpur Sahib via the Kartarpur Corridor.

PSGPC president Satwant Singh told media on Monday that he had extended an invitation to both the Akal Takht Jathedar and SGPC president for a  pilgrimage to Gurdwara Darbar Sahib via Kartarpur Corridor hoping that the Indian government would reopen the Kartarpur Sahib pilgrimage which was suspended in 2020.

Satwant Singh said that despite the reopening of the pilgrimage via corridor by Pakistan, the Indian government was yet to resume the pilgrimage despite considerable improvement in the Covid 19 situation.

Reacting to the PSGPC’s invitation SGPC president Bibi Jagir Kaur said that SGPC had expressed gratitude towards PSGPC for extending the invitation to visit Gurdwara Darbar Sahib, Kartarpur Sahib. She said she was hopeful that Almighty would fulfill the religious aspirations of Sikhs to visit Gurdwara Darbar Sahib and pay obeisance in near future.

The Indian government website www.prakashpurab550.mha.gov.in  which is used for online booking of the day-long pilgrimage to Gurdwara Darbar Sahib, Kartarpur Sahib, Pakistan reads. “In the wake of  COVID-19 Pandemic, as a precautionary measure to contain and control the spread of the disease, the travel and registration for Sri Kartarpur Sahib is temporarily suspended from March 16, 2020”.