Recently, Pakistan resolved to exempt Sikh pilgrims from the payment of visa fees. The decision falls within the government of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s plan to ease traveling restrictions and religious tourism in the country. In specific, it targets Sikh pilgrims visiting Pakistan to pay homage to sacred religious shrines, including the holy Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Kartarpur.
For easier facilitation, the policy will waive standard visa fees for these pilgrims in line with Pakistan’s overall hospitality measures for religious tourists. This is part of a larger visa relaxation framework, which also includes waiving fees for 126 other countries and electronic gates at major airports to ease entry processes. The idea is to increase tourism and cross-cultural ties by making travel to Pakistan more attractive and accessible to international visitors
