Monday, March 14 2005 15:29 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Islamabad: Pakistan today (Mar 14, 2005) began issuing forms for people wanting to travel by the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad bus service scheduled to begin on April 7.

The forms were now placed at the deputy commissioner offices at Muzaffarabad and other centres in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK), Liqat Hussain, deputy commissioner of Muzaffarabad district said.

A number of people have evinced interest in obtaining the forms and those wanting to travel by the first bus can collect the forms and submit them back for immediate clearance, Hussain was quoted as saying by Geo TV.

The bus service is open for all Indians and Pakistanis. The travellers do not require passports or visas but have to obtain special permits to be issued by both the countries after screening.

The procedure requires that the forms of those from Pakistan side wanting to travel to Srinagar would be sent for clearance to Indian side, which would issue special permit.

The same procedure would be followed for those travelling from Srinagar to Muzaffarabad.

While India has nominated the Regional Passport Office in Srinagar, as the nodal office for issuing and processing all applications, Pakistan has nominated the deputy commissioner offices in PoK.