Pakistan, India set for accord on new bus routes
Talks for Sir Creek joint survey begin
Bureau Report

LAHORE—Pakistan and India are expected to ink agreement on Lahore-Amritsar Bus service on Wednesday (today) as the two delegations began their talks here on technical aspects of the service. This would be the third bus service to be launched between the two countries as part of their peace process.
Additional Secretary, Ministry of Communications, Muhammad Abbas is representing Pakistan while Saruj Kumar, Additional Secretary, Road Transport Authority, India, is leading seven-member delegation of his country at the two-day talks which opened here on Tuesday. Talking to local and foreign media before the meeting, leaders of both the delegations said they would focus on issues like technical matters, time-frame and number of passengers before the signing ceremony is held today.
“Running of bus-service between Amritsar-Nankana Sahib, the birth place of Baba Guru Nanak Devji Sahib could also figure in the meeting,” said Abbas. “Bus service between Amritsar-Lahore could start within next ten to twelve days, if everything goes well during the meeting”, leader of the Indian delegation told newsmen.
It may be recalled that first test-run between Amritsar-Lahore bus service was held on December 11 while Lahore-Amritsar trial run was conducted on December 13. The latest move to increase people-to-people ties is part of the peace process initiated between the countries in January 2004.
The bus, covering a 45-kilometer (28-miles) route, will link the two countries via their only international land crossing at Wahgah. According to officials, the trial was originally scheduled for mid-October but was postponed after the devastating earthquake in Pakistan.
The second bus link opened in April this year, connecting Srinagar and Muzuffarabad. The two countries already have a popular bus link between New Delhi and Lahore.
APP adds: Two Pak-India Technical Experts meeting for the Joint Survey of Sir Creek — one of the eight areas, covered by Composite Dialogue Process began on Tuesday here at South Block. Twelve-member delegation, attending the parleys is headed by Major General Jamil Ur Rahman Afridi, Surveyor General of Pakistan. While Indian side is led by Brig Girish Kumar, Deputy Surveyor General of India at the meeting.
As members of the delegation, Deputy High Commissioner to India Munawar Saeed and Naval Advisor at Pakistan High Commission Captain Mateen Ur Rehman are also attending the talks. Talking to APP Special Correspondent ahead of the commencement of talks, Leader of Pak delegation Maj General Afridi said the technical aspects of the joint survey of Sir Creek would be discussed with the Indian counterpart during the talks. In response to a question, Surveyor General of Pakistan said that an agreement would be inked between the two sides after the finalization of the modalities in this regard.