BEIJING, Mar. 23 (APP): Pakistan and China will start a regular bus service on daily basis from June 1, to facilitate their people to travel between Gilgit and Kashgar. The decision to this effect was taken at the senior officials level meeting held in Urumqi on March. 20 and 21. It will be for the first time that Pakistan's Northern areas will be connected with China's Western region through a regular bus service. According to formal protocol initialed by the two parties, one bus will be operated from each side on daily basis that will travel between Sust and Tashkorgan, bordering the two countries. Each side will launch another bus service thrice a week between Kashgar, Sust, Khunjrab and Gilgit. Sources told APP here yesterday that two countries will also start goods transportation service via Khunjrab pass from May 1. It was agreed that each side will issue 3000 permits to their registered transporters to carry goods between the two countries. Each permit will be valid for one-round trip and the vehicles will be operated from the designated points. The number of permits could be gradually increased according to the demand of the transporters. The protocol is an important step forward to channelize the existing road network arrangement between the two countries. It will go a long way promoting their commercial links and strengthening people-to-people contacts. During the talks, the two sides emphasized the importance of Karakarum Highway that serves as a 'Friendship bridge' between the two countries. They also acknowledged that Pakistan could act as a transit facility giving China access to Central Asian markets and developing energy sources. According to the sources, development of road transport system carries special significance, when the two countries are engaged in consolidating their economic ties.
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