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Pakistan, India launch new bus service

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Islamabad, Jan 20, IRNA
Pakistan-India-Bus
A new bus service connecting the Pakistani city of Lahore and the Indian Amritsar was launched on Friday as the bus with 10 passengers and 14 officials on board crossed over to India.

The bus left Lahore at 9 a.m. and crossed the international border at Wahga around 10:05 a.m.

Pakistan famous folk singer madam Reshma is among a seven-member cultural troupe.

"I am happy to be in the first Lahore-Amritsar bus service.

This is good step by both Pakistan and India and I wish it should continue," Reshman told a group of journalists aboard the bus.

Three Indian national cricket fans who had come to Lahore to watch the first Pakistan-India test match at Lahore also traveled in the bus.

The bus will also carry 14 officials of the ministries of communication, foreign affairs and interior and Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation (PTDC).

Secretary Punjab Tourism and resorts Development Department Hasan Nawaz Tarar and District Coordination Officer Lahore Mian Ijaz are also among these officials.

The bus was seen off by Punjab Tourism Minister Mian Aslam Iqbal from PTDC bus terminal in Gulberg.

The bus began its operations with several seats vacant and the passengers faced problems to get visas.

The first bus will return on Saturday, a PTDC official said.

According to schedule bus from Lahore will leave on Friday of every week and will return on Saturday.

The bus from Amritsar will run on every Tuesday and return on Wednesday.

Pakistan and India have two other bus services, between Lahore and New Delhi and Muzafarabad, the capital of Pakistan-administered Kashmir and Srinagar, the summer capital of Indian controlled Kashmir.

The two countries plan two new bus services.

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