Sindh proposes Kartarpur-like corridor to facilitate Hindu and Jain pilgrims.
In a bid to enhance religious tourism and foster cross-border cultural ties, Sindh Tourism Minister Zulfiqar Ali Shah has proposed the establishment of a religious corridor akin to the Kartarpur Corridor on the Pakistan-India border.
The corridor would cater to Hindu and Jain devotees, providing them with easier access to significant religious sites in the region.
Addressing an event in Dubai aimed at promoting Sindh’s tourism potential, Shah revealed that the proposed corridor would be situated in Umarkot and Nagarparkar.
Umarkot is renowned for the Shri Shiv Mandir, one of Sindh’s oldest Hindu temples, believed by some to be over 2,000 years old.
Local Hindu community leaders, however, claim it could be as ancient as 5,000 years.
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Minister Shah emphasized the strong desire among Hindu and Jain communities to visit these sacred sites, suggesting that the Sindh government could initiate a weekly flight from India to Sukkur or Larkana to facilitate religious tourism.
This initiative, he noted, could significantly boost the local economy and strengthen cultural ties between the two neighboring countries.
The Kartarpur Corridor: A Model for Peace and Pilgrimage
The inspiration for this proposal comes from the successful implementation of the Kartarpur Corridor, which was inaugurated on November 9, 2019.
This corridor, stretching 4.1 kilometers from the Pakistan-India border, provides Sikh pilgrims with visa-free access to the Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Kartarpur, Pakistan.
Prior to the corridor’s opening, pilgrims from India faced a daunting 125-kilometer journey via Lahore.
Now, the travel distance has been drastically reduced, allowing more devotees to visit the site, which is the final resting place of Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikhism.
The Kartarpur Corridor has been hailed as a significant milestone in India-Pakistan relations, fostering goodwill and facilitating religious harmony.
It allows pilgrims to cross the international border without a visa, a major achievement after over seventy years since the partition of the subcontinent.
Potential Impact of the Proposed Corridor:
The proposed Hindu-Jain corridor in Sindh could mirror the success of the Kartarpur initiative by:
- Enhancing Cultural Exchange: Promoting people-to-people contact and mutual understanding between India and Pakistan.
- Promoting Religious Harmony: Demonstrating a commitment to religious tolerance and accommodation for minority communities.
- Boosting Tourism: Increasing visitor numbers could drive economic growth in the region.
- Preserving Heritage Sites: Encouraging the restoration and maintenance of ancient temples, thereby preserving cultural heritage.
As Sindh proposes Kartarpur-like corridor to facilitate Hindu and Jain pilgrims, if realized, the corridor could become a powerful symbol of peace and cooperation, reinforcing the importance of cultural and religious connectivity in the South Asian region.
Big News – India is planning Kartarpur like Corridor to Sharda Peeth in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (POK).
— News Arena India (@NewsArenaIndia) April 2, 2023
