ISLAMABAD A bus service from the Pakistani port city of Karachi and the Iranian capital Tehran started on Monday.

The Tehran bus service was already operational from Lahore and Islamabad to Tehran and now it will be operated from Karachi, said IRNA.

Nazim (mayor) of Karachi Naimatullah Khan inaugurated the bus service. Iranian Consulate General in Karachi Mohammed Zaery Ameerani and other officers were also present.

Naimatullah Khan said Pakistan and Iran relations have a long history and the Persian language was government language in this region two centuries ago.

Naimatullah Khan said Karachi is the most important city, not only in Pakistan but in Central Asia. "It is the major gateway and seaport of the Central Asian states. In light of the holy Qoran the whole Muslims of the world is the same Ummah. It is need of hour to make coordination and promotion of brotherhood among the all Muslim states."

The Iran Consulate said, "this bus service will strengthen bilateral relations and will ease transportation by the people of the two neighboring countries."