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ISLAMABAD: Pakistan&rsquo;s Federal Minister for Communications, Abdul Aleem Khan, on Thursday announced a decision to connect the holy sites of Kartarpur and Nankana Sahib with the national motorway network, according to a press release issued by the state-run Press Information Department. Presiding over a high-level meeting, the minister directed the National Highways Authority (NHA) to begin construction of the Sialkot&ndash;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/pakistan-issues-visas-to-sikh-pilgrims-for-guru-nanak-birth-anniversary" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" rel="noopener noreferrer">Kartarpur</a>&nbsp;Motorway, which will be named the &ldquo;Guru Nanak Expressway.&rdquo; He said that three-, four-, and five-star hotels would be developed along the highway to accommodate pilgrims. Foreign investment&nbsp;To attract investment from the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/kartarpur-corridor-stands-silent-as-india-keeps-its-border-shut" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" rel="noopener noreferrer">global Sikh community</a>, the minister said the NHA would launch international marketing campaigns in London, Canada, and the US, and present the projects at international roadshows to encourage foreign direct investment. Khan said the expressway would bring socio-economic benefits to nearby towns, including Narang Mandi and Badu Malhi. He further directed the NHA to ensure the construction of modern rest areas and shopping malls along the route.

Foreign Affairs

Pakistan's Communications Minister Aleem Khan directs the National Highways Authority to begin construction of the Sialkot-Kartarpur Motorway, which will be named the ‘Guru Nanak Expressway.’

Highway authority directed to link Kartarpur, Nankana Sahib with motorway network

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has issued more than 2,100 visas to Sikh pilgrims from India to attend celebrations marking the 556th birth anniversary of Baba Guru Nanak, the High Commission for Pakistan in New Delhi said on Wednesday.&nbsp;Pakistan&rsquo;s Charge d&rsquo;Affaires Saad Ahmad Warraich welcomed the pilgrims and wished them a spiritually rewarding visit. He noted that the government remains committed to facilitating access to religious sites as part of its efforts to promote interfaith harmony.&nbsp;Guru Nanak, born on April 15, 1469, in present-day Nankana Sahib, Pakistan, was the founder of Sikhism and is revered for his message of equality and peace.&nbsp;The commemorative events will take place across Pakistan from November 4 to 13, 2025. Pilgrims will visit major religious landmarks, including Gurdwara Nankana Sahib, Gurdwara Panja Sahib, and Gurdwara Kartarpur Sahib.&nbsp;The visas were issued under the Bilateral Protocol on Visits to Religious Shrines of 1974, an agreement that enables citizens of both Pakistan and India to visit designated sacred sites across the border.&nbsp;The Kartarpur Corridor, which once allowed visa-free travel for Sikh pilgrims visiting Gurdwara Darbar Sahib, where Guru Nanak spent his final years, remains closed on the Indian side. It has been suspended since May 2025 following a brief military clash, with India citing security concerns. Pakistan, however, has kept its side open, calling the move a gesture of goodwill.&nbsp;Indian Sikh leaders and Punjab lawmakers have repeatedly urged the reopening of the corridor, calling the closure a restriction on religious access. While Pakistan says it is prepared to host pilgrims, reduced permits and travel permissions from India have tempered expectations for attendance this year.

Culture

Islamabad issued over 2,100 visas for Indian Sikh pilgrims to attend Baba Guru Nanak’s birth anniversary celebrations in Pakistan, with visits to major gurdwaras planned. The Kartarpur Corridor remains closed on India’s side, affecting wider participation.

Articles tagged with "Gurdwara Kartarpur Sahib"

Highway authority directed to link Kartarpur, Nankana Sahib with motorway network

Pakistan issues visas for Indian Sikh pilgrims amid corridor closure