The Indian delegates-Secretary Transport Indian Punjab A R Talwar, Director Transport Narinderjit Singh, Commissioner Transport Iqbal Singh Sidhu, Deputy Commissioner Amritsar Kirandeep Singh Bhullar, Station Supervisor Punjab Roadways Amritsar-I Shrikant, Inspector Sarjit Kumar-were accorded a warm welcome. Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation (PTDC) Managing Director Hashim Khan received them.
Talking to journalists, after entering into Pakistan, the delegation head A R Talwar expressed his extreme happiness over the new initiative. He said that new bus service would equally benefit the people of either sides of Punjab and would facilitate maximum people.
Initially, the bus would operate between Lahore and Amritsar and vice versa once a week and the service frequency would be increased later on, the Secretary Transport Indian Punjab added.
To a query, Talwar said the proposed dates for regular bus service between the two cities is December 23 for Lahore-Amritsar and December 27 for Amritsar-Lahore. However, the Pak-India technical level meeting being held in Islamabad on December 20-21, would take final decision in this regard, he pointed out.
To another question, Talwar said that Nankana Sahib-Amritsar bus service is yet to be decided, adding efforts should be made to soften visa policy.
Hashim Khan on the occasion said the new bus service would connect Lahore and Amritsar, facilitating people to frequently visit either sides and added that similarly, Nankana Sahib-Amritsar bus service would largely facilitate the Sikh Yatrees to visit their holy places in Pakistan.
The PTDC MD further said that one-fourth population of the world is living in the Saarc region, therefore, on-arrival visa policy should be put in place among the member countries.
Later, briefing the media men at PTDC bus terminal, Talwar said the route is quite feasible for travelling and added that Lahore city roads are also wide and safe. He said, "We are also widening the road from Amritsar to Wagah Border."