Punjab wants simple security check on Pak buses

Chandigarh, Mar 14: The Punjab government has asked the Union HomeMinistry to ease the visa and security check clearance that Indianpassengers travelling to Pakistan by road through the Wagah check posthave to undergo.

''Perhaps if the visa and security procedures are simplified, theoccupancy rate on board the Amritsar-Lahore and Amritsar-Nankana Sahibbuses could increase'', state Transport Minister Mohan Lal said whiletalking to reporters here today.

The minister pointed out even after obtaining a visa, securityclearance of an Indian passenger takes a minimum of 15-days. ''Thistime gap has to be shortened for the route to become popular'', he said.

When pointed out to the losses that the two state transport luxurycoaches plying between Amritsar-Lahore and Amritsar-Nankana Sahib wereincurring, the Minister said, ''the losses on these two routes do notmatter, as the road links were established as part of the ConfidenceBuilding Measures between India and Pakistan''. The minister washopeful the occupancy rate on the two routes would increase.

Transport officials who were present at the press briefing saidthe occupancy on both the Lahore and Nankana Sahib buses had shown animprovement in the past few months. Buses to both these towns ofPakistan from Amritsar were introduced early last year.

The Punjab Roadways plies its luxury Volvo coaches on these tworoutes on two days of the week, while the Pakistan Tourism Corporation(PTC) also plies its luxury coaches on two days of the week.

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