Pak, India to reduce bus service frequency

Islamabad, Feb 4: Pakistan and India are expected to reduce the frequency of the cross-border bus service between Amritsar and Nankana Sahib and Amritsar and Lahore.

The Daily Times quoted a senior official of the Pakistan Ministry of Communication as saying that representatives of the two countries would meet in New Delhi next week to discuss the issue. A standing committee formed to supervise all bus operations between Amritsar-and Nankana Sahib and Amritsar and Lahore would have its maiden meeting in the Indian capital, he added.

"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," the unnamed official said.

He said some issues, including the limited number of passengers and strict visa policy is affecting the bus service launched 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 added.

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.

The bus diplomacy is one of the more tangible elements of the peace process between the nuclear-capable rivals.

ANI