WAGAH/LAHORE: A meeting between Pakistan and India to discuss details of the Kartarpur Corridor project took place in a “conducive environment and remained positive” the Foreign Office spokesman said on Thursday.
Dr. Muhammad Faisal, who is also the Director General for South Asia and SAARC, led an 18-member delegation from Pakistan on Thursday morning to discuss the draft agreement with officials from across the border. S.C.L. Das, Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Home Affairs led the Indian delegation.
During the course of the meeting, officials from both sides discussed matters related to the project such as construction work and other technicalities.
A joint statement issued after the meeting said that the talks to discuss “the modalities and the draft agreement for the facilitation of pilgrims to visit Gurdwara Kartarpur Sahib” were held “in a cordial environment.”
Before reading the joint communiqué signed by the two delegations at Attari — the Indian side of the border — Dr. Faisal described the meeting as “powerful.”
“It was a powerful meeting, and participants from the two sides (India and Pakistan) held positive talks and issued a joint statement. It is after a long time that the two nations have issued a joint statement as the last one was issued in 2016,” Dr. Faisal said.
He added that the next round of talks would take place in Wagah — the Pakistani side of the border — on April 2, prior to which the two sides would meet on March 19 to discuss the modalities of the projects.
When questioned whether there were any differences of opinion pertaining to the project, Dr. Faisal said: “There are differences on certain aspects but the details of those cannot be revealed at the moment.”
The project seeks to provide easy access to Sikhs from across the world, including India, by connecting the Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in the Kartarpur area of Pakistan’s Narowal district with Dera Baba Nanak in India’s Gurdaspur District.
Pakistan-India meeting on Kartarpur Corridor positive — FO spokesman
Pakistan-India meeting on Kartarpur Corridor positive — FO spokesman
- Two countries issue joint statement after three years
- Next round of talks to take place at Wagah on April 2
Pakistan cabinet reviews private Hajj policy as mandatory pilgrim training enforced
- Cabinet sends draft Private Hajj Policy 2027–2030 to committee for further review
- Religion minister warns pilgrims who skip mandatory training will be barred from Hajj
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s federal cabinet on Wednesday reviewed proposals for stricter oversight of private Hajj operators, as authorities separately warned that pilgrims who failed to complete mandatory training would be barred from performing Hajj next year.
The cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, was briefed on a draft Private Hajj Policy for 2027–2030, which includes third-party registration and scrutiny of private Hajj operator companies, according to a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office.
“The Federal Cabinet directed that the draft Private Hajj Policy 2027–2030, presented by the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony regarding third-party registration and scrutiny of private Hajj operators’ companies, be referred to the Hajj Policy Committee for further deliberation in light of the views of Cabinet members,” the prime minister’s office said in a statement.
The development comes as Religious Affairs Minister Sardar Muhammad Yousaf said on Wednesday pilgrims who failed to attend both phases of mandatory Hajj training would not be allowed to perform the pilgrimage.
“Pilgrims who do not complete mandatory Hajj training will be barred from performing Hajj,” the ministry quoted Yousaf as saying during a training workshop in Islamabad.
Around 120,000 pilgrims are currently undergoing training at 200 locations nationwide, with the second phase scheduled to begin after Ramadan. The training aims to familiarize pilgrims with Saudi laws, Hajj rituals and safety protocols to prevent accidents in crowded areas.
Saudi Arabia has allocated 179,210 pilgrims to Pakistan for Hajj 2026, including about 118,000 seats under the government scheme, while the remainder will be handled by private tour operators.
Under Pakistan’s government Hajj package, the estimated cost ranges from Rs1.15 million to Rs1.25 million ($4,049.93 to $4,236), subject to final agreements with service providers.
