By NNN-KUNA
New Delhi : India and Pakistan Thursday held discussions on steps to enhance the frequency of bilateral bus services to facilitate better people-to-people contacts.
“The first meeting of the India-Pakistan Standing Committee on Delhi-Lahore, Amritsar-Lahore and Amritsar-Nankana Sahib Bus Services was held here today.
The Indian delegation was led by Saroj Kumar Dash, Joint Secretary (Transport), Ministry of Shipping, Road Transport and Highways and the Pakistan delegation was led by Mohammad Abbas, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Communications,” an Indian External Affairs Ministry official told KUNA after the talks.
“Both sides noted with satisfaction the continuing operations of the bus services and discussed further measures for its improvement,” he said, adding, “It has been decided to increase the frequency of Delhi- Lahore bus service from two trips per week to three trips per week from each side.
It was also decided to rationalise the bus fare. In addition, the quota for the return tickets would be increased from the existing six seats to 10 seats.”
“The meeting also 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 official informed.
The new arrangements will come into vogue from March 17 this year. “Today’s meeting was held in a friendly and cordial atmosphere,” the official said and expressed hope that the increase in frequency of bus services would facilitate better people-to-people contacts.