ISLAMABAD: The government has decided to set up Project Management Unit (PMU) for management and maintenance of Gurdwara Darbar Sahib Kartarpur (GDSK) constructed and outsourced by Frontier Works Organization (FWO), official sources told Business Recorder.
The ETPB functions under Evacuee Trust Properties (Management & Disposal) Act No. XIII of 1975 and the schemes made thereunder. The present Government decided to open the Corridor with Gurdwara Darbar Sahib Kartarpur with lead role to ETPB.
The Government of Pakistan spent Rs 16.280 billon on development of the Gurdwara. The project was formally approved under the Prime Minister's Directive given on March 19, 2019. Kartarpur Sahib Corridor was inaugurated by the Prime Minister on November 9, 2019, coinciding with 550 birthday anniversary of Baba Guru Nanak Dev Ji, founder of Sikh religion.
As per bilateral agreement between Pakistan and India held on October 24, 2019, 5000 Sikh pilgrims are allowed to visit GDSK through corridor, while local Pakistanis are also visiting the DKC in considerable numbers. Every yatree deposits $ 20 as "service charges" on arrival from Indian side which is credited into Federal Consolidated Fund. From Nov-2019 to March-2020, 63,000 (63,000x$20-$1,260,000) yatrees from India visited the Gurdwara. Visitors from Pakistani side pay Rs 200 per head as "service charges" to Global Nobal Company (FWO). From Nov-2019 to March-2020, 422,000 (422,000 x Rs 200 -- Rs 84,400,000) locals from within Pakistan visited the Gurdwara.
Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony argues that after remodeling the GDSK, it has become a huge complex and not easy to manage, as thousands of locals visit the complex on daily basis. ETPB has made interim arrangements but existing staff is not sufficient to manage the affairs of Gurdwara including day to day operation of the Corridor. Therefore, regular, well trained and equipped staff is required to maintain and manage the project.
The sources said, ETPB proposed that Project Management Unit should be established to run its management and to streamline the religious activities inside the Gurdwara Kartarpur Sahib and take its lead role by extending coordination with other agencies working in GDSK.
Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony further noted that the Establishment Division (MS Wing) had agreed/recommended creation of 162 posts for PMU, however, Finance Division agreed to the creation of 126 posts for PMU. ETPB had proposed a Business Plan for the creation and self-financing of the PMU. The Ministry of RA&IFH sanctioned following business plan for establishment/self-financing of Project Management Unit to run the affairs of Gurdwara Kartarpur Sahib Corridor under the supervision of ETPB advice: (i) Business Plan to create PMU at Gurdwara Darbar Sahib Kartarpur along with creation of 126 posts and recurring budget and other costs to make PMU a self-financing body under the administrative control of ETPB.
PMU/ETPB would be allowed to collect fees/rents and utilize the funds from local visitor's service charges, rent of shops, parking fees and cultural activities, according to Sikh traditions. The Ministry requested that an estimated amount of Rs. 90.300 million collected by the Global Nobel/FWO from service charges of Pakistani visitors and rent of shops may be allowed to be transferred to PMU on its creation to meet its immediate expenses. The Operation & Maintenance works for an initial period of two years i.e. from Nov-2019 to Oct-2021 is being carried out by M/s Global Nobal Company outsourced by FWO. It will continue to be carried out under the supervision of PMU until Oct-2021, as the amount for this purpose has already been paid to FWO.
Finance Division endorsed proposals of Business Plan. However it was clarified by the MoRA&IFH that Federal Government could entrust any Government Property to ETPB in trust pool as per Section 07 of the ETPB Act, 1975. Scheme for the management and disposal of Urban Evacuee Trust Properties, 1977 also empowers renting, leasing and its development. All rents, profit, income and other amounts received/realized would also be part of trust pool. This would be collected in PMU budget and may be spent on PMU as per the forward plan.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2020
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