Dosti Bus operating between Lahore and Delhi does not have proper departure facility in Lahore since July, 2015
KARACHI: A lot is being said and published in the electronic and print media regarding the efforts made by the Pakistan and Indian governments to improve relations between the two countries. Unfortunately, the Dosti Bus Service operating between Lahore and Delhi has not had a proper departure facility in Lahore since July, 2015 and passengers are asked to arrive at the Wagah border at 5:00am.
People travelling with children and the elderly have to pay thousands of rupees in taxi fares to reach the Wagah border from Lahore. The majority of passengers going to India are from Karachi, completely unaware of Lahore roads.
Before July 2015, the Dosti Bus Service used to operate from a local hotel in Lahore, as arranged by the Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation (PTDC). Upon the end of the contract, the PTDC shifted the departure facility to Liberty roundabout. When I travelled by bus in September, 2015, I was told that the departure from Liberty had also been suspended and I had to report to the Wagah border at 5:00am. It was expensive, hectic and scary.
PTDC and the Ministry of Tourism are requested to resume the Dosti Bus Service from downtown Lahore, instead of asking passengers to report to the Wagah border in the wee hours with luggage. I hope they find a suitable place within city limits to build a bus stand to facilitate both Pakistani and Indian passengers’ utlising the bus service.
M Rafique Zakaria
Published in The Express Tribune, March 5th, 2016.
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