ISLAMABAD, May 10: Pakistan and India made substantial progress in talks held on Tuesday over starting a bus service between Lahore and Amritsar. The Indian side led by Joint Secretary, Transport, Alok Rawat, and Pakistan’s team led by Additional Secretary, Communications, Mohammad Abbas, are likely to make a statement detailing the outcome of the talks after the final round of parleys on Wednesday.

Talking to Dawn at a dinner reception, Mr Rawat sounded optimistic about the start of the bus service. Asked about reports that it would take at least two months to start the service, Mr Rawat said it might be earlier. He said both the countries could benefit economically from the people-to-people contacts.

Mohammad Abbas, the leader of Pakistan’s side, said the talks had progressed positively.

Diplomatic sources expect that a memorandum of understanding about the service will be signed on Wednesday. Islamabad had proposed a direct 56km Lahore-Amritsar service once a week, said an official.

Talking to journalists, Communications Minister Shamim Siddiqui said Pakistan would like to start the service as soon as possible once an understanding on the issue was achieved. He said the service could be started within a couple of months.

He said about 200,000 Indians and Pakistanis visited each other’s countries each year and the number was expected to increase.