Bus route to Birmingham: a milestone?

E-Paper | June 13, 2026

AUTHORITIES in Pakistan have confirmed that a bus route project from Mirpur to Birmingham is in process.

The mammoth journey will take travellers through some of the most dangerous areas of Pakistan on their way to Iran, Turkey and Europe before reaching the Midlands city after around eight days, officials said.

Tahir Khokher, transport minister of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, has said fares would be around Rs20,000 ($210), a fraction of air fares that are typically close to $1,000.

This is being done to benefit Pakistanis living in Birmingham who hails from Mirpur.

The task is insurmountable though, the authorities are in contact with a number of bus companies and believe that it can be achieved.

Although there is no firm idea now as to when this project will start, if it is started and established it would greatly reduce the number of airline customers, besides promoting tourism through Turkey and all of Europe for just 20K.

ARSLAN ARSHAD Lahore

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Azfar A Khan

Oct 06, 2012 06:19am

If sincere efforts are made, security aspect can be looked after. The idea is too good. it will have a lot of enjoyment too in the form of sight-seeing for the travelers. Buses of the standard of "Greyhound" of USA with bathroom facility should be procured for the purpose. The insurance should also be included in the ticket. Air Cdre ( R ) Azfar A Khan

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Observer

Oct 06, 2012 09:40am

This is a rather grandiose dream. Getting transit visas for so many travellers , crossing all those borders without being harassed because of Pakistani citizenship, providing desi food overseas for over a week, travelling cramped over such long distances non stop, are only some of the nightmares both the organisers and the travellers would have to face.

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Faraz

Oct 07, 2012 03:25am

With so many visa restrictions for Pakistanis and security issues, I just cannot get to comprehend that someone actually thought about such an idea, not practical at all.

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Sam

Oct 07, 2012 01:03am

This completely a flop and bad idea.This bus will be a open target for hijackers, looters and smuglers.You can see from history the idea of ferry between Karachi and Dubai few years ago.The idea simply didnt worked.Pakistani passport require visa for each and every country in the world.EU and UK visas will be impossible to obtain for such a bus.

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Imran Jiwani

Oct 06, 2012 11:20pm

I highly doubt if anyone in their right mind will choose this option to travel. The above article clearly states that the bus passes through some of the most dangerous areas of Pakistan. What do you expect someone's reaction after reading this. And in any case, even if some one is travelling to Pakistan, they will know how unsafe it is to travel through some of the areas.

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jalaluddin S. Hussain

Oct 06, 2012 03:30pm

It is a welcome idea and must be encouraged.

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Vittal Pyati

Oct 06, 2012 07:34pm

Add cost of meals for 8 days. What about sleeping arrangements? If I lose sleep 8 days in a row I'd be dead. Better to pay more and fly.

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S.S.A

Oct 06, 2012 04:55pm

I hope this kind of an interesting & cheaper way to travel would become a reality. However, I am extremely apprehensive of the behavior of our traveling public! On dozens of flights, just between mid-east & Pakistan, one must see the pathetic behavior of these travelers, particularly the condition of the washrooms, for a travel time of just a couple of hours! Can you imagine what it'd be like to travel for a week on a bus with just one washroom - to be used by these kind of passengers! And am also convinced, no matter how much you try to emphasize to these people about behavior & cleanliness...they just do not have the capacity to learn!!! God knows if we would ever learn!!!

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Caz

Oct 06, 2012 10:04am

good scope for illegal immigration from pakistan to Britain

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londonistani

Oct 06, 2012 10:24am

only in your fantasy

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