Srinagar, May 9 : The bus services between Srinagar and Muzaffarabad and Poonch and Rawalakote would shortly operate on a weekly basis.

"Trade and tourism would also start through these routes soon," Jammu and Kashmir Social Welfare Minster Abdul Gani Vakil said addressing a public meeting in Bandipora on Friday.

The bus services on these routes are currently operating on a fortnightly basis.

The minister said "unprecedented" development carried out in all sectors with liberal financial support from centre was sure to transform socio-economic profile of the state.

"In fact, it has already started yielding desirable results" he added.

Downplaying the claims of certain political outfits that they were instrumental in initiating confidence-building measures in the state, Vakil said "regional parties and even state governments have little role on external subjects. This is solely a Central subject and dealt under foreign policy of the country".

He said UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh were the actual architects of the thaw in ties between India and Pakistan.