First Pakistan-China bus service flagged off

The first-ever Pakistan-China bus service was flagged off on Thursday morning from Gilgit in Pakistan to Kashghar in China.

The bus service is a follow up of President Pervez Musharraf's talks with the Chinese authorities in Shanghai and his attending the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit there earlier this month.

According to official sources, the Northern Areas Transport Corporation (NATCO) has worked out all arrangements for the service.

Federal Minister for Communication Shamim Siddiqi and Northern Areas Chief Executive Major (retd) Tahir Iqbal flagged off the bus at 6 a.m. It will reach Kashghar in six hours, the Daily Times said.

The first bus carried representatives from the Northern Areas administration, chamber of commerce and industry and media.

The bus fare from Gilgit to Kashghar has been fixed in US dollars and is equal to Rs 2,600 in Pakistani currency. Each passenger can carry 20 kg of baggage.