For the first time since the Pak-India Dosti bus service was launched between New Delhi and Lahore, Pakistan has restricted its entry into the provincial capital and Nankana Sahib, citing increased “terror threats”.
The Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation (PTDC) has said the Pak-India Dosti bus service will now on be operated only up to Wagah Border.
“The PTDC has shifted the entire bus operation at its sub-office at Wagah. Passengers leaving for New Delhi and Amritsar from Pakistan will now have to catch the bus at Wagah. Similarly, those arriving in Pakistan from across the border by the service will disembark at Wagah too,” an official of PTDC said.
He said the decision has been taken in the wake of growing terror threats.
Earlier, police used to escort the buses from Wagah to Lahore’s Gulberg and Nankana Sahib terminals. Similarly, the police used to provide escort to the Dosti buses from Gulberg and Nankana Sahib to Wagah.
“Although it will cause hassle for the passengers of the both sides but we have taken the steps for their security,” the official said, adding that the government might consider restoring the old terminals (Gulberg and Nankana Sahib) after reviewing the law and order situation.
The bus service between the two countries was started on March 16, 1999 primarily to enhance people-to-people contact.