New Delhi
28 September 2005
After resuming bus services between New
Delhi and Lahore and between Srinagar and Muzaffarabad, India and
Pakistan have agreed to launch an Amritsar-Lahore bus link in the first
half of November.
After the second round of technical-level talks, which concluded on
Wednesday, the two countries decided that prior to the launch of the
service, a trial run will be carried out in the second half of October.
At the talks, the Indian delegation was led by Mr Dilip Sinha, joint
secretary in the external affairs ministry and the Pakistan delegation was
headed by Mr Mohammad Abbas, additional secretary in the ministry of
communications.
The two sides also explored the possibility of travel by pilgrims from both
countries to holy shrines in India and Pakistan including Ajmer Sharif.
They also discussed the draft agreement / protocol and technical
modalities for the Nankana Sahib - Amritsar bus service including issues
such as designated routes, bus terminals and facilities for the bus crews.
Both sides agreed to hold another round of technical level talks within one
month to finalise the arrangements for starting the Nankana Sahib-
Amritsar bus service at the earliest possible.
For the bus service between Amritsar and Lahore, the two countries
decided that Iindians travelling on the Amritsar-Lahore bus will have to
pay a fare of Rs 750 while a Pakistani will have to shell out (Pakistani) Rs
900.
At the first round in Islamabad in May this year, the two sides had agreed
in principle to run the two bus services but had deferred their
operationalisation to work out more
technical details.
Meanwhile, two-day civil aviation talks between Pakistan and India to
review the existing bilateral arrangements concluded in Rawalpindi on
Wednesday. The Indian delegation was led by Mr Satendra Singh,
Director General, Ministry of Civil Aviation and the Pakistani delegation
was led by Maj Gen (Retd) Muhammad Ashraf Chaudhry, Additional
Secretary, in the Ministry of Defence.
Indepth discussions were held on adding more destinations, designation
of multiple airlines and increasing frequency of flights. Both sides agreed
to continue discussions. The next meeting would be held at a mutually
convenient date.
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