India and Pakistan on Wednesday agreed on visa-free travelof Indian pilgrims to Gurudwara Darbar Sahib in Pakistan using the Kartarpurcorridor, officials said.However during the meeting between the two sides atAttari in Amritsar, Pakistan insisted on charging a service fee for allowingpilgrims to visit the Gurdwara, which was not agreeable to the Indian side.

Pakistan has also shown its unwillingness to allow thepresence of Indian Consular or protocol officials at the Gurdwara premises.Pakistan side was urged to reconsider its position, officials said.

Officials said the two sides agreed on visa-free travel ofIndian pilgrims to Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Pakistan without any restrictions. Personsof Indian origin holding OCI (Overseas Citizenship of India) card too can visitthe Gurdwara using the Kartarpur corridor, official sources said.

It was also decided that 5,000 pilgrims can visit the shrineeveryday and that additional pilgrims will be allowed on special occasions,subject to capacity expansion of facilities by Pakistan side, the sources said.InNovember 2018, India and Pakistan had agreed to set up the border crossinglinking Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Kartarpur, the final resting place of Sikhfaith founder Guru Nanak, to Dera Baba Nanak in Gurdaspur district. Kartarpuris located in Pakistan's Narowal district across the Ravi river, about four kmfrom Dera Baba Nanak. "Pakistan has conveyed its solemn commitment toincrease this number to the maximum possible," said a source.In themeeting, it was also decided that the corridor will be operational throughoutthe year and seven days a week and that pilgrims will have a choice to visit itas individuals or in groupsBoth sides agreed to build bridge at Budhi Ravichannel. Pending the construction of the bridge on the Pakistan side, bothsides agreed to the crossing point coordinates of the temporary service road,sources said.