Pakistan and India signed the agreement on Kartarpur Corridor on Thursday, making way for its formal inauguration on November 9, ahead of the 550th birth anniversary of the founder of Sikhism, Guru Nanak Dev.

Dr Mohammad Faisal, Pakistani foreign ministry spokesman, and S. C. L. Das, Joint Secretary in India's Ministry of Home Affairs, signed the agreement at zero line, the Pakistan-India Narowal border. 

Following the signing ceremony, the spokesperson of Pakistan foreign office said: "There were very difficult and tough negotiations," while talking about the several rounds of dialogues between the two sides over the project. 

He said: "Under the agreement, the corridor will remain open seven days a week from dawn to dusk," adding that the pilgrims would arrive through the corridor in the day and leave by evening.

The project is expected to facilitate 5,000 pilgrims a day.  

Talking about the rights of minorities in Pakistan, the spokesperson said: "It is the biggest gurdwara in the world. This is how we treat minorities in the country, this is our approach towards minorities. It is in line with the teachings of the Holy Prophet Muhammad." 

The first group of pilgrims will arrive on November 9, and the ones that come through the corridor will not require a visa. They will have to carry their passports which will be scanned but not stamped. 

Under the agreement, the Indian authorities will provide Pakistan a list of pilgrims, 10 days ahead of their visit.

The spokesperson said: "There is no change in Pakistan's position on India-occupied Kashmir." 

The longstanding agreement has been finalized after three rounds of negotiations.  

The negotiations were protracted because of deep differences on various provisions of the agreement, the Pulwama stand-off, Indian reservations over the composition of the committee set up to look after the affairs of the corridor, and elections in India.

The last sticking point was the 20-U.S.-dollar service fee that Pakistan would charge from every pilgrim for a single trip. However, India has reluctantly agreed to it. 

Following the inauguration of the corridor, a visa free link between Darbar Sahib in Kartarpur and Dera Baba Nanak shrine in India's Punjab will open for the pilgrims.