Pakistan, India to reduce bus service frequency
* Senior official says limited number of passengers and strict visa policy affecting cross-border bus services
By Muhammad Bilal
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and India are likely to reduce the frequency of the cross-border bus service, as communication authorities from the two countries are expected to meet next week to discuss the issue.
A senior official of the communication ministry told Daily Times on Sunday that a standing committee formed to supervise all the operations regarding Amritsar-Nankana and Amritsar-Lahore bus services would hold its maiden meeting in New Delhi.
“The date of the meeting is still not confirmed but it is likely to be held in the second week of February. Our side will be headed by Additional Secretary Muhammad Abbas,” said the official, asking not to be named.
Affecting factors: He said some issues, including the limited number of passengers and strict visa policy were affecting the bus service.
The two countries launched the cross-border bus services to facilitate Sikh devotees.
The official said they were weighing two options, either to reduce the frequency of the bus service or amalgamate the routes of the two bus services.
“We will present these options in a meeting of the standing committee but there are more options as well, in order to make the bus service commercially viable,” he said.
There are some other issues concerning the operators of the bus services that will be discussed in detail at the meeting, he said.
Following the improvement in relations between India and Pakistan, the South Asian neighbours had launched a regular bus service between Amritsar and Nankana Sahib, keeping in view the sentiments of the people of Punjab who have been seeking a direct transport link to Nankana Sahib, birthplace of Sikhism founder Guru Nanak.
People had been facing tremendous difficulties obtaining visas to travel by the bus.
The bus diplomacy is one of the more tangible elements of the peace process between the nuclear-capable rivals, who nearly went to war over Kashmir in 2002.
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