By IANS
New Delhi : The frequency of the bus service between Delhi and Lahore will be increased from the present two trips a week to three a week from March 17, an India-Pakistan Standing Committee decided Thursday.
“The meeting took place in a friendly and cordial atmosphere,” an official press communiqué said after the India-Pakistan Standing Committee on the Delhi-Lahore, Amritsar-Lahore and Amritsar-Nankana Sahib bus services held its first seating.
the Indian delegation was led Saroj Kumar Dash, joint secretary (transport) in the ministry of highways, while Pakistani side was led by Mohammad Abbas, additional secretary in the ministry of communications.
“Both sides noted with satisfaction the continuing operations of the bus services and discussed further measures for their improvement. It has been decided to increase the frequency of the Delhi-Lahore bus service from two trips per week to three trips per week from each side,” said the statement.
The two sides also agreed to rationalize the bus fare and increase the quota for the return tickets from the existing six seats to 10 seats.
“The two sides agreed that en route, the Amritsar-Nankana Sahib bus service would make a halt at Lahore to enable the passengers to disembark or embark, whereas the Lahore-Amritsar bus service would continue to operate as per the existing arrangement,” the press release said.
“It was decided that the concerned financial officials of the two sides would meet every year, alternately in Delhi and Lahore, in July for reconciliation of accounts. The new arrangements will come into effect from March 17, 2008,” it said.