TCKP arranges safari train tour for transgender community

PESHAWAR: The Tourism Corporation Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (TCKP) organised a day-long safari train tour from the provincial capital to Attock Khurd for the transgender community on Tuesday.
TCKP Senior General Manager Syed Hayat Ali Shah and In-charge Marketing and Media Hassina Shaukat welcomed the picnickers on the platform of historic Peshawar Cantonment Railway Station with bouquets and garlands before the train left for its destination at 9am.
TransAction President Farzana Jan, General Secretary Arzo, Chairman Sikh community Radesh Singh Toni, civil society member Taimur Kamal, Zahoor Durrani and others were also present on the occasion.
Attock Khurd, located in Attock district of Punjab, houses the historical Attock Fort built by the Mughal King Akbar in 1581. Bahram ki Baradari is another Mughal-era monument situated at the ridge of mountains on the southern side of the Grand Trunk Road near Attock Khurd.
“We provided transgenders a unique opportunity to avail an outing and at the same time we want to apprise them of the rich heritage and tourist spots of our country,” Senior General Manager Hayat Ali Shah told media as the decorated train started chugging towards the historic Attock Khurd.
The official said that this time the train tour had been arranged for the transgerders so that they could also enjoy recreational and entertainment opportunities.
In-charge Marketing and Media Hassina Shaukat said that the activity was aimed at revitalising the train trip to historical sites such as Attock Khurd, Attock Bridge, Attock Fort, Indus River, promote the importance and awareness of tourism among the transgender community and their families and build a baseline for the domestic tourism.
She said that the TCKP had planned to start a training programme for the tour guides in which the members of transgender community would also be invited to get training.
The official added that they had also arranged train tours for the minority communities in the past and would do so in future so that they could also know about the rich history, heritage, culture and tourist places. The picnickers enjoyed the excursion when they passed through various railway stations including Pabbi, Nowshera, Khushal Kot, Akora Khattak, Jehangira, Indus River and Attock Bridge.
They were also briefed about the historic perspective of the train track and various railway stations.
As part of the joyride, the picnickers greatly amused with live instrumental music on this joyful excursion. A number of fun filled recreational activities and competitions were also arranged at the river bank like kite flying, camel ride, tug-of-war, uphill race, archery and making selfies.
Hailing the TCKP initiative, TransAction President Farzana Jan said that it was a good approach of the authorities to boost domestic tourism and provide entertainment opportunity to her community.
She said the train tour was a source of enjoyment and learning experience for the people belonging to the hitherto neglected community and urged that other government departments should also follow in the steps of TCKP.