KARACHI, June 26: The members of business delegation visiting India to participate in IPCCI meeting scheduled for July 7-8, will now have to take flights via Dubai because of reported delay in resumption of bus service between Lahore and New Delhi. The delegation is expected to reach New Delhi by July 2.

In the absence of overflight permission and no direct airlink between the two countries, the members of delegation have to catch Dubai flights for reaching New Delhi.

A large business delegation led by India-Pakistan Chamber of Commerce and Industry co-president senator Ilyas Ahmed Bilour and Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry president Riaz Ahmed Tata was earlier expected to attend the IPCCI meeting on June 27-28 in New Delhi.

The delegation members were planning to go by road via Wagah border, which is now not possible because of delay in resumption of bus service between the two countries.

Similarly, in the absence of overflight rights there is no direct air flights, and as a result majority of the delegation members will have to reach New Delhi via Dubai.

Ilyas Ahmed Bilour told Dawn from Peshawar that only those members of the delegation would go by road who hold Saarc stickers or they are MNAs or senators.

Responding to a question, he said around 40 delegation members were expected to go by road, while 60 will have to catch flights to Dubai for reaching New Delhi.

Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) president Dr A.C. Muthiah invited the business delegation from Pakistan to attend third meeting of the IPCCI to be held on July 7-8.

It is Pakistan’s turn to nominate the president of IPCCI and India will be nominating its co-president. The last meeting of the IPCCI was hosted by Islamabad in May 2001.

State Minister for Tourism, Sports and Culture Rais Munir Ahmed admitted the other day that there was a delay in resumption of Lahore-New Delhi bus service, and it could only start by the end of July or early August. He said that easing of visa policy by both the countries would take some more time.