The Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) government has planned a bus service starting from Kashmir to Birmingham, Pakistan Today has learnt. It will take 12 days to reach Birmingham through Iran, Turkey and other European countries, which makes these 8000 kilometers (5000 miles) one of the longest bus routes in the world.
The AJK government is currently negotiating with Iranian and Turkish governments. The bus will have a stopover at Quetta, from where it will enter Iran.
Talking to Pakistan Today, AJK Transport Minister Tariq Khokher said that the service will not only promote tourism but also provide a cheaper transport facility to Kashmiris (Birmingham is home to the world’s largest population of Kashmiri expatriates, many of whom emigrated from Mirpur back in the 1960s), especially after the recent rise in the air fare. The fare of this service is yet to be finalized but is estimated at around Rs 18,000.
Commenting on the feasibility of the project he said it is only a day’s drive to Quetta, while beyond that point there are motorways all along. “It will start in March at the earliest because we are in negotiation with the Iranian and Turkish governments, besides the winters will make travel difficult in Europe,” he added.
He further said the government will also try to expedite the visa process for those who do not have a British passport.