Islamabad: Pakistan and Afghanistan on Wednesday (July 20) decided to launch a cross-border luxury bus service, news sources reported. The bus service will be launched by August to increase people-to-people contacts and to facilitate the business community.
Reportedly, the two countries reached the agreement during three-day bilateral talks held in Kabul. During the session, it was decided that both countries would work together to improve trade relations and ease visa restrictions. The two sides decided to:
• Develop a mechanism for early clearance of goods at the border crossings
• Increase operational timings at all crossing points, including Torkham, Kharlachi, Ghulam Khan, and Chaman-Spin Boldak
• Increase mutual consultations for the visa processing rules and regulations
It is worth noting that Pakistan and China have formally invited Afghanistan to join the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project, which would expand Pakistan’s reach into the Central Asian Republics (CARs).
In addition to boosting transit trade security and efficiency, Pakistan is developing a digital goods processing facility at the Torkham border with the assistance of the World Bank.
Nauman Ahmad is an imaginative Pisces whose love for literature and nature is unparalleled. When he's not reading or hiking, he's sleeping and eating, which gives him plenty of energy for his next adventure.
