Monday, February 28 2005 21:45 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Islamabad: Pakistan today (Feb 28, 2005) said it was ready to reschedule the date for starting the Muzaffarabad-Srinagar bus service in view of the "operational difficulties" expressed by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in opening the road on the agreed date of April 7.

Pakistan was ready to understand any difficulties faced by India to meet the deadline to start the bus service on April 7, outgoing Pakistan Foreign Office Spokesman Masood Khan told a media briefing in Islamabad.

Singh, who made an aerial survey of avalanche-hit areas of Jammu and Kashmir, said yesterday that there were "operational difficulties" in opening the road on the scheduled date.

"The Indian Prime Minister has said in Jammu that there might be difficulties from the Indian side. It has to be agreed through mutual consultations. If there are some difficulties on the other side we would understand and we would be ready to make necessary adjustments," he said.

"As far as Pakistan is concerned our preparations are in full swing," he said adding that officials were now upgrading the Muzaffarabad-Srinagar road and carrying out repairs.

The road is being built wherever necessary and checkpoints being refurbished, he said adding a baggage centre too was being set up.

The infrastructure is being spruced up to make it operational from April 7, he said.