Registration for pilgrimage to Kartarpur on hold

NEW DELHI: Pilgrimage and registration for the Kartarpur Sahib Gurudwara in Pakistan will be suspended beginning Sunday midnight in view of the Coronavirus outbreak, the Union home ministry said.

The government has also suspended movement of all types of passengers through international border points with Pakistan from 00:00 hours of March 16 in view of the coronavirus threat.

“In wake of Covid-19 India outbreak, as a precautionary measure to contain and control spread of the disease, the travel and registration for Sri Kartarpur Sahib is temporarily suspended from 00:00 hours on March 16, 2020, till further orders,” a home ministry spokesperson said.

An official posted at the integrated check post in Punjab’s Gurdaspur said BSF officials will hold a meeting with Pakistan Rangers to inform about the suspension of movement of pilgrims.

Official further said the pilgrims, who had got registration, would be intimated about suspension of pilgrimage.

On Saturday, the government had announced suspension of all types of passenger movement through the Indo-bangla, Indonepal, Indo-bhutan and Indomyanmar borders barring a few specified border checkposts with effect from 00:00 hours on March 15, except through a few posts, and at India-pakistan border with effect from 00:00 hours on March 16 until further orders.

The decisions have been taken in view of the coronavirus threat, a home ministry official said.

In November, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had inaugurated a dedicated corridor connecting Dera Baba Nanak in Punjab with Kartarpur Sahib gurudwara in Pakistan.

THE GOVERNMENT HAS ALSO SUSPENDED MOVEMENT OF ALL TYPES OF PASSENGERS THROUGH INT’L BORDER POINTS WITH PAK FROM 00:00 HRS OF MARCH 16