137 people cross over to Pak

Neeraj Bagga

Tribune News Service

AMRITSAR, DECEMBER 29

Shahin, a Pakistan national, was elated to return to her country after getting critical treatment for her legs in India. Stuck for a long time due to the Covid-induced lockdown and post regulatory guidelines, she was among the 137 Pakistani and Indian nationals who crossed over to Pakistan from the Attari-Wagah Joint Check Post (JCP) on Tuesday.

She along with many of her stranded compatriots heaved a sigh upon returning to their country. She recalled that she had come here in July 2018 for getting an advance treatment for both her painful legs. Wife of a retired Pakistan government official, Mohammad Yunus, she thanked Indian doctors for their proficiency in the medical field besides acknowledging India and Pakistan governments for facilitating travel of such patients. She, however, disliked the long period lived during the lockdown.

An Indian national Muwasir Nabi said the pandemic and its restrictions hampered his education. He is pursuing BTech degree from Peshawar. He could not return to Pakistan for his classes as he was at his home in Jammu and Kashmir when the lockdown happened. Indian national Abida from Srinagar stated that her children were visiting their Nanu’s residence in Pakistan after three years. She is a votary of easy travel between the two countries by burying their bitter rivalries to forge peaceful and harmonious future for their nationals.

The 137 Indian and Pakistani nationals who crossed over to Pakistan had come from different parts of the country, including Delhi (97), Madhya Pradesh (13), Gujarat (9), Jammu and Kashmir (7), Chattisgarh (4), Rajasthan (3), Maharashtra (2) and west Bengal (1).