A special 'jatha' of some 500 Sikh pilgrims reached Kartarpur in Pakistan on Tuesday (30 July) for the 550th birth anniversary celebrations of Guru Nanak Dev to begin from 1 August, reports Asian News International (ANI).

Pakistan’s High Commission based in Delhi had issued visas under the framework of Pakistan-India Protocol on Visits to Religious Shrines of 1974 to facilitate the travel of the pilgrims to the nation.

"This morning, a special Jatha of a little over 500 Indian Sikh pilgrims crossed over to Pakistan for Nankana Sahib. These pilgrims are scheduled to kick start celebrations of the 550th birth anniversary of Baba Guru Nanak from his birth place, Nankana Sahib, Pakistan on Thursday, 1 August 2019," Pakistani Foreign Office said.

A statement issued by Pakistan's High Commission said that, "Government of Pakistan also believes in the policy of promoting visits to religious shrines and people-to-people contacts between Pakistan and India."

The development comes after Indian and Pakistani officials sat down for the second round of bilateral talks on operationalising Kartarpur Corridor at the earliest. The said meeting had taken place on 14 July.

The operationalisation of the corridor would allow Sikh pilgrims to travel to Gurudwara Darbar Sahib Kartarpur in Pakistan on a daily basis without visa and other hassles.