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| 11 March 2004 | Thursday | 19 Muharram 1425 |
Accord on Khokhrapar bus service reached
ISLAMABAD, March 10: The two-day technical-level talks between Pakistan and India for resuming the Khokhrapar-Munabao bus service concluded here on Wednesday
with both sides affirming their commitment to commence the service and agreeing to meet again to continue discussions.
A joint statement issued at the end of the two-day meeting said: "The talks were held in a cordial and constructive manner. Date and place for the next meeting would be fixed through diplomatic channels."
Technical details and modalities for the bus shuttle would be decided at a follow-up meeting for which the dates and venue have yet to be decided, the statement added.
Meanwhile, sources in the communications ministry told Dawn that the meeting also considered the expected volume of passengers and the number of buses that would be required to ply on the route once it was opened as well as the frequency of buses travelling between the two countries from both sides.
"But all this is premature because much more important is the fact that on the Pakistan side a lot of time would be required to build the necessary infrastructure," the sources said.
They said the Indian side was eager to resume the service as early as possible, but Pakistan was required to 'do a lot' before being able to meet the basic requirements.
The sources said that on the Pakistan side there existed no road link with Munabao and at least a 35-mile-long (around 56km) road was required to be constructed to link the border post with Mithi, the nearest town in Sindh.
In addition, a border post, buildings for the customs and immigration staff, terminals for buses and passengers and other basic requirements were needed before the resumption of the bus service. "All this will need at least a year even if work on these projects is launched immediately on a priority basis," the sources said.
INDIAN TEAM MEETS MINISTER: Talking to the Indian delegates, who called on him on Wednesday, Federal Communications Minister Ahmed Ali said the leadership of both Pakistan and India had agreed to promote bilateral relations and added that measures were being taken to develop mutual confidence, a spokesperson for the communication ministry said.
"Air and rail services have already been restored besides the Lahore-Delhi bus service and now talks are on for opening of the Khokhrapar-Munabao bus service," the minister said.
He said the bus service would greatly facilitate the people of interior Sindh and Karachi to travel to India. "Such steps will provide people on both sides an opportunity to come closer," the minister added.
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