Safari train trip arranged from Peshawar to Attock Khurd

Quaid-e-Azam Day

PESHAWAR: A joyful train trip from Peshawar to Attock Khurd was arranged for the tourists and visitors to celebrate the Quaid-e-Azam Day on Saturday.

The safari train tour themed as ‘Quaid-e-Azam Day’ was organised by the Tourism Corporation Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (TCKP) in collaboration with the Pakistan Railways and the Sehrai Travels, said an official communiqué.

Additional Secretary Sports, Tourism, Culture, Archaeology, Museums and Youth Affairs Department Muhammad Tariq welcomed the guests on the platform of Peshawar Cantonment Railway Station with bouquets and garlands.

The train left the Peshawar Cantt Railway Station on the chilling cloudy morning at 9am with over 120 passengers on board. They included families and students from different institutions, while the officials of TCKP also accompanied the picnickers.

One of the passengers, a young nine-years old Amina Khan, wearing one of the badges of Army Public School Shaheeds which are designed by TCKP in their remembrance, commented that it was a welcome step as they were having winter holidays and were bored at home with nothing to do.

Another passenger, Shireen, stated that it was a good approach of the authorities to boost domestic tourism as well as a source of enjoyment for the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and tourists from elsewhere in the country.

She further said that it was also a learning experience for the young lot and lauded the TCKP’s decision to theme tour on specific days or noted personalities. The guests were enthralled by the scenic sites, lush green fields and orchards of peaches and plums, undulating hillocks and the rugged Manglot mountain range.

The passengers were provided lunch boxes along with refreshments by the TCKP. TCKP has planned a six-month programme to attract more tourists to the unique and joyful excursion.

According to the programme, train trips will be arranged on the special days of the year. The train tour in November was themed with Allama Iqbal Day, December was Quaid-e-Azam Day, January 2016 as New Year Celebration, February 2016 as Kashmir Day, March 2016 as Pakistan Day and the excursion in April has been titled as Spring Festival.

Tickets are available at the Peshawar Tourist Information Centre, adjacent to Peshawar Museum during working hours and seats are reserved on ‘first come first serve basis’.