Islamabad: Pakistan has decided to start a luxury bus service for Afghanistan.
According to Express News, Pakistan has decided to start a luxury bus service for land travel with Afghanistan, under which an international bus terminal will be established at the Torkham border for customs and immigration clearance of passengers and goods.
Sources say that matters have been settled between Pakistan’s Ministry of Mosul and Afghanistan’s Ministry of Communications and there has been an agreement in principle to start the bus service regularly, for which Pakistan and Afghanistan will soon finalize the arrangements within their respective borders.
Sources say that the decision to start a bus service for traveling by land between Pakistan and Afghanistan has been taken due to the difficulties in air travel between the two countries as there have been difficulties in air flights since the establishment of the Taliban government. Keeping this in mind, this decision was taken in the meeting of the Afghanistan International Coordination Cell established to resolve issues and problems between the two countries.
A luxury bus service will be started from Peshawar to Jalalabad for land travel between Pakistan and Afghanistan, for which matters have been settled between Pakistan’s Ministry of Infrastructure and the Afghan Ministry of Communications.
According to a document available to Express, the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) issued Notification No. 346(I)/2023 for the establishment of International Bus Service Terminal at Torkham border for bus service on the Pakistan side, through which on February 12, 1983. Important amendments have been made in the issued SRO No. 102(I)/1983.
According to the copy of notification issued by FBR, a Basic Health Unit (BHU) will be set up opposite Torkham at International Bus Service Terminal Torkham border for which space has been allotted.
According to the notification, customs and immigration clearance of passengers and their luggage traveling by luxury bus starting from Peshawar to Jalalabad will be done at this international bus service terminal to be established at the said allotted place.
Officials of the Ministry of Communication say that initially a bus service consisting of fifteen to twenty seats will be started from Peshawar to Jalalabad, for which the Afghan authorities are completing the arrangements for this bus service on their side, under which Jalalabad. An international bus service terminal is being established in Afghanistan and the Afghan authorities will be responsible for the security of the bus service and passenger luggage in Afghanistan.
Officials say that according to the decision made in the Afghanistan International Coordination Cell meeting, Pakistan is going to make arrangements for this bus service on its side and according to this, an international bus service terminal is being established at the Torkham border.
In this international bus service terminal, a special checking area with modern facilities and equipment will be constructed for the checking of passengers and their luggage coming and going between Pakistan and Afghanistan. . Initially, one bus will be operated with 15 to 20 seats, after which it will be increased.
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