I heard no fee will be charged.
The following news indicates that Pakistan is proposing to charge $20 per head which seems to be very low.
A fee of $2000 per head would be appropriate.
Note that Sikhs are one of the wealthiest communities in India and around the world.
Pakistan imposing 'Jazia' on Sikhs for visiting Kartarpur Gurdwara, says BJP national secretary
Pakistan’s foreign ministry had earlier clarified that it was not an entrance fee
Published: September 15, 2019 12:55
Evangeline Elsa, Community Solutions Editor
Pakistan committed to completing Kartarpur Corridor
Dubai: An Indian political leader from the Bharatiya Janata Party has said termed a $20 (Dh73) service fee on Indian pilgrims travelling to Gurdwara Darbar Sahib through the proposed Kartarpur corridor as "jazia" (a tax traditionally sought from non-Muslims).
On Saturday, Tarun Chugh, BJP national secretary and co-incharge of the party in the national capital, alleged that this is yet another attempt by Pakistan to scuttle the scheduled opening of the corridor between the two countries.
On Sunday, Hindustan Times reported that India has shared a draft agreement on the Kartarpur Corridor with Pakistan, New Delhi shared the draft pact after the two sides failed to reach an agreement even after the third round of talks on September 4.
As reported by the Press Trust of India: “At a joint secretary-level meeting between India and Pakistan on September 4, the two sides could not finalise the draft agreement on the corridor, with Pakistan insisting on charging a service fee from Indian pilgrims and not allowing protocol officials to accompany them.”
On Thursday, Islamabad had announced that it would charge pilgrims using the Kartarpur corridor $20 service fee. Pakistan’s foreign ministry had clarified that it was not an entrance fee and was meant to cover 10 per cent to 15 per cent of the costs. India had described it as Pakistan’s “inflexible attitude”.
The PTI reported that in a statement, Chugh said: "The USD 20 fee is nothing but 'jazia' to be charged from Sikhs. The Narendra Modi government will not allow it at any cost."
In India, no fee or charge is taken from any devotees for visiting shrines. Then how can the Government of India accede to a totally unjustified proposal put forth by Pakistan?" the BJP leader asked.
He urged Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan to intervene, saying it is a religious and emotional issue for crores of devotees who follow the teachings of Guru Nanak Dev, the founder of the Sikh faith.
Chugh said both the governments had acceded to the long-pending demand of Sikhs for opening the Kartarpur corridor which could facilitate Sikhs and others from India to visit and pay obeisance at the historic shrine.
Some Indian Twitter users who shared the Chugh's comments agreed.
What is the Kartarpur corridor?
The Kartarpur corridor connects the Sikh holy shrine of Dera Baba Nanak Sahib, located in Punjab, India, and the holy shrine of Gurdwara Darbar Sahib Kartarpur in Pakistan through a road link.
The 16th century Gurdwara is four kilometres away from International Border. Situated on the banks of river Ravi, the Gurdwara is important for Sikhs as their first guru (spiritual leader) Guru Nanak Dev spent 18 years there.
Gurdwara Darbar Sahib Kartarpur is built on the historic site where Guru Nanak settled and assembled a Sikh community after his missionary travels. The present Gurdwara is built on the site where Guru Nanak died, on September 22, 1539.
For decades, Sikh devotees have been demanding that India and Pakistan collaborate to build a corridor linking it with Dera Baba Nanak in Gurdaspur district.
Recently, India and Pakistan have been holding talks on opening a corridor for people to make the pilgrimage to a Sikh place of worship in Pakistan.
The Kartarpur corridor, that will allow Sikh pilgrims from India to visit the Gurdwara Darbar Sahib Kartarpur in Pakistan, will be opened in November to mark the 550th birth anniversary celebrations of Guru Nanak Dev.
Earlier this year, Islamabad had also refused to grant New Delhi’s requests to allow 10,000 pilgrims to use the corridor on special occasions along with consular presence in the Kartarpur Sahib Gurdwara. Officials from the two sides had discussed the draft agreement and operationalisation of the corridor and related technical matters in July.
Amid ongoing discussions on the project, tension between the two countries have since New Delhi’s decision to revoke Jammu and Kashmir’s special status on August 5. Pakistan has downgraded diplomatic ties with India and suspended bilateral trade.
https://gulfnews.com/world/asia/ind...a-says-bjp-national-secretary-1.1568540676808
Ministry: Country's Hajj Cost is Cheapest among ASEAN Countries
Translator:
Dewi Elvia Muthiariny
Editor:
Petir Garda Bhwana
29 January 2019 11:27 WIB
COMMENT
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Ministry of Religious Affairs claimed that the country’s
Hajj pilgrimage cost (BPIH) is the cheapest among ASEAN countries, said the ministry’s sec-gen of Directorate General of Hajj and Umrah Providence, Ramadhan Harisman, as quoted from the ministry official website, Tuesday, January 29.
“Based on our study during 2015-2018, BPIH Indonesia is the lowest of that of Brunei Darussalam, Malaysia, and Singapore which send the largest congregation in ASEAN. However, the number of Indonesian pilgrimages is larger than the three countries,” Ramadhan said.
According to him, during the past four years, the average cost of hajj pilgrimage in Brunei Darussalam is US$8,738 in 2015, US$8,788 (2016), US$8,422 (2017), and US$8,980 (2018).
The hajj pilgrimage cost in Singapore is averagely above US$5,000, which is in 2015 at US$5,176, US$5,354 (2016), US$4,436 (2017), and US$5,323 (2018), while in Malaysia at US$2,750 (2015), US$2,568 (2016), US$2,254 (2017), and US$2,557 (2018).
“In US dollar, the average cost of BPIH in Indonesia is US$2,717 in 2015, US$2,585 in 2016, US$2,606 in 2017, and US$2,632 in 2018,” Ramadhan noted.
At a glance, BPIH Indonesia is larger than Malaysia’s. However, it is actually cheaper considering a total of US$400 or equal to 1,500 riyal Saudi Arabia is returned to congregations for the living cost in the Holy Land.
The ministry along with the working committee of the House of Representatives (DPR) Commission VIII is currently canvassing the BPIH in 1440 Hijr calender or 2019 which is expected to finish in early February.
Ramadhan estimated that the hajj pilgrimage cost in US dollar would likely decrease than that of the previous year. However, in rupiah currency, the cost would be increased due to the weakening rupiah against US dollar, the price hike of avtur, and regulations of Saudi Arabia administration that raises the land transportation cost in the general service fee amounted to 330 riyal Saudi.
“The government, DPR, and the
Hajj Fund Management Agency (BPKH) continue to discuss the hajj pilgrimage cost in 2019 within a reasonable limit,” Ramadhan concluded.
BISNIS
https://en.tempo.co/read/1169923/ministry-countrys-hajj-cost-is-cheapest-among-asean-countries