Pakistan has facilitated a significant religious outreach by issuing over 2,100 visas to Sikh pilgrims from India for the upcoming Guru Nanak Jayanti celebrations. The Gurpurab festivities, commemorating the birth of Baba Guru Nanak Dev Ji, are scheduled to occur in Pakistan between November 4th and November 13th, 2025. The Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi officially announced the visa approvals. This event underscores the importance of religious tourism and people-to-people connections between the two nations. The Kartarpur Sahib Corridor, crucial for facilitating such visits, has had its operational agreement extended for another five years, a move welcomed by pilgrims. India continues to advocate for the elimination of service charges imposed by Pakistan on pilgrims, seeking the removal of the $20 fee. The corridor, initiated in November 2019, allows visa-free travel for Indian Sikhs to the revered Gurdwara Darbar Sahib Kartarpur. Following its restoration, the shrine has become a key destination for pilgrims. While the corridor faced temporary disruptions earlier this year due to security considerations, its continued functioning is vital for the Sikh diaspora’s religious observance.
