Amritsar-Lahore bus returns empty, likely to be grounded

Neeraj Bagga

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, August 10

If Harwinder Singh, driver of Punj-Aab Express plying between Amritsar and Lahore, is to be believed then the bus service will be discontinued from next week.

Talking to The Tribune, Inspector Onkar Singh, security incharge at the International Bus Terminal here, today said: “Upon his return from Lahore today, Harwinder informed us that he had been told by a terminal officer there (at Lahore) that there was no need to bring the bus from next week and a written communique in this regard would reach his office soon.”

Harwinder returned with an empty bus as there were no passengers. Similarly, a bus of Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation (PTDC) returned to Pakistan today.

As per the bilateral agreement between India and Pakistan, Indian bus from Amritsar to Lahore plies every Tuesday and Friday and returns on following days, Wednesday and Saturday.

Similarly, Pakistan runs reciprocal service from Lahore to Amritsar every Tuesday and Friday, which returns the next day, Wednesday and Saturday.

Onkar Singh said for the past some years Pakistan authorities were stationing both buses at the crossing of the border from Attari Wagah Check Post. After India revoked Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan had initiated steps to snap all trans-border rail and road links besides downgrading diplomatic relations.

Pakistan Minister for Communications and Postal Services Murad Saeed had tweeted yesterday that in line with the decisions of the National Security Committee, Pak-India bus service was suspended.