LAHORE, March 24: The first Amritsar-Nankana Sahib bus on Friday crossed over to the Pakistani side of the Wagah border carrying 20 officials and passengers each amidst drum beats marking the fourth road-link between Pakistan and India.
The inaugural bus was seen off by Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh from Amritsar.
At the Wagah border, the bus was received by Federal Religious Affairs Minister Ijazul Haq along with Punjab Tourism Minister Mian Aslam Iqbal, Transport Minister Rana Shamshad, Lahore District Nazim Mian Amer Mahmood and other officials. The passengers were garlanded and showered with rose petals.
A large number of schoolchildren stood on both sides of the road outside Wagah border limits to greet the Indian guests. They were carrying the national flags of Pakistan and India.
The Indian officials and passengers expressed their jubilation over the launching of the bus service, saying that the Sikhs were demanding travel facilities to visit their religious places, particularly at Nankana Sahib. Some Sikh passengers also danced to the drum beats.
The Indian passengers said the government had selected eminent persons from six districts of the Punjab to travel by the inaugural bus.
Talking to reporters at the Wagah border, Indian delegation head and Punjab Transport Minister Mohinder Singh KP said the bus service would go a long way in strengthening the bond among Pakistani and Indian Punjabis as well as Sikhs.
He said it had been a longstanding demand of the Sikhs that a bus service be launched for Nankana Sahib to facilitate their religious tours.
Punjab Education Minister Dr Rajkumar said school students had visited Lahore sometime back and had nostalgic memories of their visit.
He said Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had said that he wanted to resolve all issues with an open heart and mind. He said visa centres would also be opened in Amritsar and Lahore to meet people’s demands.
Mr Haq said the Pakistan government was offering all-out facilities to Sikh pilgrims for visiting their religious places.
LAHORE, March 24: The first Amritsar-Nankana Sahib bus on Friday crossed over to the Pakistani side of the Wagah border carrying 20 officials and passengers each amidst drum beats marking the fourth road-link between Pakistan and India.
