E-Paper
Pak, China to start bus service from June 1
The decision was taken at a meeting between senior officials of both the countries in Urumqi.
Pakistan and China will start several bus services connecting its border areas and the first such route between Gilgit and Kashaghar would open from June 1.
The decision was taken at a meeting between senior officials of both the countries in Urumqi on March 20 and 21, Pakistan's official said.
It will be for the first time that Northern areas currently under the control of Pakistan will be connected with China's Western region through a regular bus service.
According to formal protocol initialled by the two parties, one bus will be operated from each side on daily basis that will travel between Sust and Tashkorgan, bordering the two countries.
Each side will launch another bus service thrice a week between Kashgar, Sust, Khunjrab and Gilgit, it said but gave no date.
The two countries will also start goods transportation service via Khunjrab pass from May one.
It was agreed that each side will issue 3,000 permits to their registered transporters to carry goods between the two countries.
Each permit will be valid for one-round trip and the vehicles will be operated from the designated points.
The number of permits could be gradually increased according to the demand of the transporters, the report said.
With the finalisation of bus links to China, Pakistan virtually worked out transport links with all its neighbours.
Pakistan and India have been running three bus services, Lahore-New Delhi, Lahore-Amritsar and Muzafarabad-Srinagar besides a train service between Lahore and Attari called Samjhotha Express.
