Pakistan’s private bus service has announced the launch of service between Islamabad and Tashkurgan, a city in the Xinjiang region of China. The service is scheduled to commence after Eid al-Fitr on May 13, 2023, with a Mini Yutong bus operating in the first phase, with a capacity of 28 seats.
A representative of the company revealed to Gwadar Pro that the estimated journey time, including immigration procedures, would be around 38 hours, and passengers would have an overnight stay at the Sust border. The fare for the journey is estimated at 60,000 Pakistani rupees.
To get on this trip, an original passport/copy, original visa/copy, valid visa, and an invitation letter from China (visa category) are the necessary requirements. The introduction of this service has been warmly welcomed by many Pakistanis who were keen to travel to China on a larger scale via road transport.
Karar Haideri, the Secretary of Pakistan Alpine Club, has expressed his confidence in the promotion of tourism in the region as a result of this initiative. The company previously launched a bus service between Rawalpindi, Islamabad, and Tashkurgan in 2019, which was suspended due to the outbreak of the coronavirus.
It is worth noting that in November 2018, a company named North-South Transport Network had introduced a luxury bus service between Lahore and Kashgar, another Chinese city. The company provided comfortable and luxurious buses for this trip.
This initiative is expected to enhance trade and tourism between the two countries and strengthen the economic ties between Pakistan and China. The private sector is playing a significant role in promoting bilateral relations, and such services are crucial to expanding economic and cultural ties.
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Moreover, with the completion of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project, such initiatives are expected to be further enhanced, benefiting both countries. This new service between Islamabad and Tashkurgan is a significant step forward in this direction and is likely to have a positive impact on the region’s economy.
