The Kartarpur Sahib Corridor will reopen today, November 17. This comes two days before the birth anniversary of Guru Nanak. The news was announced by Union Home Minister Amit Shah via a tweet on Tuesday. He said that his decision will benefit a large number of Sikh pilgrims.

The Kartarpur Sahib corridor connects Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Pakistan, the final resting place of Guru Nanak Dev, to Dera Baba Nanak shrine in Gurdaspur district.

The pilgrimage to the Kartarpur Sahib gurdwara was suspended in March last year because of the COVID outbreak.

Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) chief Bibi Jagir Kaur said she will herself lead a special “jatha” (group) to Kartarpur Sahib on the day of Gurpurab.

Earlier, the Centre blamed Pakistan for not reopening the 4.4 km corridor.

“We welcome the Indian government’s decision, which should have been taken a long ago. The decision will provide Sikhs from Indian Punjab an opportunity to visit the Gurdwara Kartarpur where Baba Nanak had spent the last 18 years of his life,” Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (PSGPC) Pardhan (president) Sardar Ameer Singh told PTI.

“It is the basic right of the Sikhs to come to their holy places in Pakistan,” he said.

“In a major decision, that will benefit large numbers of Sikh pilgrims, PM @Narendramodi govt has decided to re-open the Kartarpur Sahib Corridor from tomorrow, Nov 17. This decision reflects the immense reverence of Modi govt towards Shri Guru Nanak Dev Ji and our Sikh community,” Amit Shah had tweeted.

Sardar Ameer Singh further added that the PSGPC would host some 3,000 Sikhs on Wednesday in connection with the birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev.

“We can facilitate as many pilgrims at the corridor crossing over here from India,” he said. He further added that the corridor will bring the people of both countries closer one day.

The ETPB, which looks after the holy places of minorities in Pakistan, also welcomed the decision of reopening the corridor.

“We had been anticipating this decision long ago, but nonetheless it’s never too late and we welcome it,” ETPB spokesperson Amir Hashmi told PTI.

He said some 3,000 Sikhs will arrive in Pakistan from India via Wagah Border on Wednesday and many others from other parts of the world.

The main event will be held on November 18 at Gurdwara Janamasthan Nankana Sahib and all visiting yatrees would be taken to the Gurdwara Kartarpur Sahib as well.