Govt ‘proposes’ Kartarpur border opening to India

E-Paper | July 17, 2026

LAHORE: The government on Friday said it had proposed to open the Kartarpur border crossing with India for Sikh pilgrims to visit Gurdwara Darbar Sahib without visa.

“There is a proposal to open Kartarpur border and after that the Indian Sikhs visiting the gurdwara will be required to have a ticket,” Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry told Dawn.

The Kartarpur gurdwara is located in Narowal district near the Indian border.

Earlier, army chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa had hinted at opening the Kartarpur border on the occasion of Baba Guru Nanak’s birth anniversary next year for Sikh pilgrims when he met cricketer-turned-politician Navjot Singh Sidhu during his visit here in the swearing-in ceremony of Prime Minister Imran Khan.

Last month Indian High Commissioner Ajay Basariya had also visited Kartarpur border.

A source told Dawn that the PTI government had not yet taken the Evacuee Trust Property Board (which looks after holy places of minorities) into confidence in this regard.

Published in Dawn, September 8th, 2018

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Sarfraz

Sep 08, 2018 09:37am

Great news... but I hope this also doesn't become a U-Turn like Atif Mian's appointment.

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Hafeez

Sep 08, 2018 10:02am

Good move but not without Visa. May be Give visa on arrival. Country'S security should be paramount.

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Jayant pareek

Sep 08, 2018 10:16am

A good initiative towards peace between two neighborhood

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let's see

Sep 08, 2018 10:32am

I don't think this will happen. But let's see.

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Asif A. Shah

Sep 08, 2018 11:24am

Excellent move! We should bury the hatchet with India and look for avenues to improve trade with India and also increase people to people contact between India and Pakistan. In that context, whenever feasible, there should be a transit point between India and Pakistan at Fazlka border post as well.

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Lost cause

Sep 08, 2018 11:51am

Has the proposal formally been made to Indian Government or is it just a hype. People should not be allowed to cross boarder without identification and head count, for obvious reasons. Any mishap could have long term implications.

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M. Emad

Sep 08, 2018 01:28pm

Very good move by Pakistan, now India should also reciprocate the two steps of Pakistan.

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Saleem Khan

Sep 08, 2018 02:59pm

Master Stroke by the all rounder

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Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad

Sep 08, 2018 03:11pm

Excellent news especially for the global and domestic Sikh community of South Asia. Keep it up and hang on tough.

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Zak

Sep 08, 2018 03:12pm

What magnanimity by Pakistan government and armed forces. The Sikhs should honour Pakistan.

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Chinpaksaddique

Sep 08, 2018 03:17pm

All indian stepping in Pakistan should come after thorough check and visa. This is a bad plan.

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Tariq, Lahore

Sep 08, 2018 03:27pm

Visa on arrival should be mandatory, nations security comes first!

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rajan

Sep 08, 2018 03:59pm

This IK government is unable to support economist selected for the welfare of the nation . and dumped him midway. How Indians believe same thing will not happen in this case too?

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Akshay

Sep 08, 2018 04:01pm

But we Indians do not want any relation or open border with Pakistan.

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ExPak

Sep 08, 2018 04:44pm

@Hafeez Totally agreed!

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Sep 08, 2018 05:01pm

@Zak Nope. No need to honour. And for what.

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Reader

Sep 08, 2018 05:01pm

@Akshay . How can you speak for all Indians?. I am very sure there are many Indians who would want better relations with Pakistan.

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Sep 08, 2018 05:02pm

@Akshay True that.

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Indian Common man

Sep 08, 2018 05:33pm

Thank you. This will win hearts of the sikh community. Please punish those who have harmed India and win over the hearts of entire country. Hope to see good relations between the separated Brothers.

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TheKhan

Sep 08, 2018 05:37pm

@Alshay You dont but there are many who does. Its because of negativity like you who is keeping peace away. Its about time you grow up and let the peace prevail.

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Sami

Sep 08, 2018 05:42pm

@Hafeez — A visa of any kind is like a lock. It keeps the honest people out. The bad guys don’t line up to get visas.

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Sami

Sep 08, 2018 05:47pm

@rajan — That’s quite a leap!

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Sami

Sep 08, 2018 05:54pm

@Asif A. Shah — yes, it is time to burry the hatchet. there is no way that the central issue of Kashmir is ever going to be resolved militarily. It only makes sense to talk to each other and turn down the temperature and start working towards peace and prosperity of the common man.

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Anonymous

Sep 08, 2018 06:14pm

This will be an important confidence building measure for both Pakistan and India.

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Atul

Sep 08, 2018 06:15pm

@Akshay yes bro you are right

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Salman Rizvi

Sep 08, 2018 06:15pm

@Akshay Then why read a Pakistani newspaper

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Khanm

Sep 08, 2018 07:25pm

Good gesture...hate cannot be ended by hate but by love....

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Ehsan

Sep 08, 2018 08:03pm

It will be good move if implemented. Citizens of the each side should be allowed to cross border with out visa.

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Changez Khan

Sep 08, 2018 08:05pm

Good move.

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ahamed

Sep 08, 2018 08:12pm

@rajan Your thinking is negative. Think peace.

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Bharat

Sep 08, 2018 08:14pm

Wrong move.

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Zak

Sep 08, 2018 08:16pm

@Chinpaksaddique The people will be in buses taken there, spend few hours and taken back and security protection will be provided.

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neeraj bhat

Sep 08, 2018 08:27pm

Good Initiative

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Akeel Ahmed

Sep 08, 2018 08:31pm

visa should be issued to pilgrims but on arrival.

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Shubham Kapoor

Sep 08, 2018 08:33pm

This move will be the biggest in South Asia after 1947 and usher a new era.

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Gus

Sep 08, 2018 08:54pm

not needed

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Nick

Sep 08, 2018 10:49pm

@Asif A. Shah :Good point, but you have to know, as a nation, what the intents are--- beyond pilgrimage and economic benefits! There could be spies--or a nationalist agenda!

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Javed

Sep 08, 2018 11:45pm

Arrival visa with fee is necessary to have enough budget to hire enough security and services personnel. Pakistan can’t afford from it’s budget.

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Sep 09, 2018 12:01am

Clearly and definitely a bold leadership initiative by the government of Pakistan towards mending fences with India inorder to create a great and shared future for the people of the subcontinent. What remains to be seen is if PM Modi’s Government in India will reciprocate so we can move forward together in terms of our mutual social and economic development in an environment of permanent peace and friendship

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Ali

Sep 09, 2018 12:59am

Will any of the border crossing be open from Sindh?

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Aditya

Sep 09, 2018 01:43am

Great move by Pak Govt. Sikh community and Indians will appreciate it. But there should b visa Checks for obvious reasons. Ind-Pak are not ready yet for visa- free travel.

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Anonymouseeeee

Sep 09, 2018 04:22am

A visa MuST be mandatory for the security of our country. Other than that, Sikh pilgrims are always welcomes into our country with open arms.

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BhaRAT

Sep 09, 2018 04:24am

Visa on arrival should be mandatory no need for such a huge gesture to unthankful people

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Asif A. Shah

Sep 09, 2018 04:42am

Excellent! The governments of India and Pakistan both should facilitate more people to people contacts between Indian Punjab and Pakistani Punjab. The Sikhs of Indian Punjab have more longing to visit Pakistani Punjab because their Holy Place is located at Nankana Sahib. In addition, the Sikhs feel at home in Pakistani Punjab because of common language, common food, common blood lines and more or less common culture.

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Taimur Khan

Sep 09, 2018 06:51am

Many and very revered Sikh shrines are situated in Pakistan. It is almost an international and moral obligation for us to grant easy access to Sikhs from across the border to visit these, particularly on certain occasions of religious significance. Initiated by Gen Bajwa, it has won the hearts of India's Sikh community. It is fervently hoped that this initiative materializes successfully, and paves the way for more interaction in the future. Peace and harmony among neighbors, in fact across the world, should be our national objective.

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Manoj

Sep 09, 2018 07:29am

Such a great gesture from Pakistan. Hope it will be effective soon. India and Pakistan need to improve relationship and live peacefully together. Lets hope for the best.

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Shahid khawaja

Sep 09, 2018 07:35am

@Hafeez A good move but proper facilities should be made available at our border to welcome the Sikh Pilgrims and also visas n security. Proper canteen and transport facilities so that all Pilgrims return safely to thier Homeland.

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Manoj

Sep 09, 2018 07:40am

@Akshay - I disagree with you. India and Pakistan are next to each other. Having close borders and no relationship is not good for anyone. Both countries need to talk, have normal relationship and resolve their dispute with dialog only. I know in past we failed to achieve this again and again. But this is the only way to resolve the conflict and live in peace together.

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Aman Singh

Sep 09, 2018 08:22am

Thanks the Pakistani people and government..

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zafar iqbal

Sep 09, 2018 08:27am

I suppose border is open only for The Kartarpur gurdwara area. The area can be secured by fence upto Gurdwara. Sikhs would be able to come here after buying ticket and having some permit. Pakistan people also need ID card and some type of permit to enter this area. i suppose it will produce some business for locals here. there should be currency conversion facility here.

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bMobil

Sep 09, 2018 09:24am

Actally border between India, Pakistan and Bangladesh should be opened permanently for every one and that to without Visa but with valid passport and strict checking at border post. Any one , except police or military persons should be able to travel and should be able stay upto 30 days. Security is a non issue since only ordinary persons will travel. This will end the unnecessary conflicts. The subcontinent will experience a complete peace with full prosperity.

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Hassan

Sep 09, 2018 09:44am

Simply going to lose the revenue generated from visit visas. "Naya Pakistan"

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Farrukh Safdar

Sep 09, 2018 09:59am

What about muslims wanting to visit for Ajmer Sharif in India?

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Prabhjyot Singh madan

Sep 09, 2018 10:07am

Any initiative which promotes a chance to ensure permanent peace is appreciated. An idea of visiting Kartarpur Sahib without visa is one which has a high probability of lasting a long time like the IWT. Thank you, Pakistan, unless it is a genuine one. Rab rakha

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Saad Ahmad

Sep 09, 2018 10:21am

@Akshay Sikh brothers desperately waited for this move

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AKB

Sep 09, 2018 08:51pm

It is a positive step and will help to improve ties between the two countries.The pilgrims visiting Tehran should have better facilities and security.Similarly.Sikhs from India visiting Pakistan should also be facilitated during their visit to religious places because people to people contact between the regional countries will promote peace and stability in the region.

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Syed Waqar Zaidi

Sep 09, 2018 11:10pm

@Akshay i know that,you need a big heart to do it but unfortunately you dont have one...

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Imran

Sep 10, 2018 08:23am

Visa free is a good idea for Kartarpur because it's only 3KM from border and a corridor could be built for people to visit and return. Baba Nanak sb had said to have lived there for 18 years and died there. It's significance for Sikhs is same as of Medina for Muslims. Great decision.

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