The incomplete road infrastructure is likely to cause at least three-month delay in launching Pak-Iran bus service. "We are having a number of problems...a proper road network does not exist at the moment to start regular bus service with Iran", the sources in the communication ministry told Business Recorder on Tuesday.
Pakistan and Iran, during two-day talks, held at Tehran in May, had agreed to start a regular bus service between Quetta and Mashhad via Dalbandin and Zahedan. Both sides have mutually agreed to start service within two months, but sources conceded Pakistan has sought more time to complete its nearly 200-km road infrastructure.
"We will have to take care of our road network as nearly 200-km patch is still under construction", the sources said, adding that at least three-km road along the Iranian border is also in dilapidated condition and needs immediate repair. On the other hand, Iran has a very developed road infrastructure, and is ready to open the border within two-month time, they said.
Keeping in view the interest of both countries' traders, they said the communications ministry has asked the National Highway Authority (NHA) to undertake construction work on priority basis. When approached, Communication Joint Secretary Firdaus Alam said: "We are going to hold another meeting in last week of July. He admitted that there was an incomplete road infrastructure that can cause delay for starting cross-border bus service with Iran.
Firdaus, who led Pakistani delegation at Pak-Iran Joint Commission meeting, said the issue would be discussed in details in the upcoming meeting to be held in Islamabad. He maintained that they would finalise the modalities of the bus service and other related issues in the meeting.
It is worth mentioning that both sides have agreed to issue six-month multiple entry visas to bus drivers from the two countries, with Pakistan proposing to extend the duration stay of businessmen from both sides from 30 to 60 days.