The 19-member team, including five crew members and 14 officials of national highway authority, customs and immigration from Pakistan, were given a warm welcome on the zero line by Deputy Commissioner Narinderjit Singh, his wife Parminder Kaur and senior officials of Border Security Force.

Tajul Islam Yousufzai, general manager of National Highway Authority, Ministry of Communication, who headed the Pakistani team, said that regular bus service between Pakistan and India was expected to start from the first week of February. The dry run of bus from Delhi to Lahore had already been conducted.

``I feel great pleasure to be in India,'' said Yousufzai, as he extended his hand to reciprocate the warm welcome by Indian officials. He said beginning of the bus service would help improving social relations between the two countries. He said India and Pakistan authorities were also considering to run a daily bus service between Delhi and Lahore. Pakistan has also proposed to start a bus service to Bangladesh and Afghanistan, he added.

He said the bus service would be much cheaper, take less time to reach and would certainly have advantages over bi-weekly Samjhauta Express. Presently the bus will run on Monday, Tuesday, Friday and Saturday, he added.

When asked what message Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had given on launching of bus service, Yousufzai said: ``Beginning of the bus service is itself a message of goodwill.''

Imtiaz Sayed, general manager of Pakistan Tourism Corporation, said opening of the land route between India and Pakistan was a good omen for Indo-Pak friendship. He said they had no fear in coming to India and added that the people of Pakistan were very happy on this occasion.

The officials when asked about the threats being given by Shiv Sena and Pakistani fundamentalists to disrupt the bus service, Yousufzai remarked: ``Such elements are in every country and their threats shall not be given importance.''

The Pakistani bus made by Mitsubishi company of Japan left for Delhi at 10.10 a.m. The officials were served with tea while the customs and immigration officials completed their formalities.

The bus was sent under tight security. While a sub-inspector and assistant sub-inspector of Punjab Police boarded the bus, three escort Gypsys will also follow the bus up to Delhi.

Gulzar Singh Ranike, MLA from Attari, Additional Deputy Commissioner Anurag Verma and DTC general manager were also present on the occasion.