Pakistan Railways (PR) is grooming and decorating a special ‘Azadi Train’

PESHAWAR (APP): Independence Day for any nation and country is like a festival and to rejoice the day everybody including national institutions make special arrangements to pay tribute to national heroes vigorously and robustly.

As part of the celebrations, this year Pakistan Railways (PR) is grooming and decorating a special ‘Azadi Train’ that will start its 4,000 kilometer long journey on August 14 from Peshawar to across the country covering all railway stations of Tehsil, District and divisional headquarters along with other major cities enroute.

The train would have air conditioned coaches having six galleries. Each picture gallery would contain information on ideology of Pakistan, life of Quaid e Azam and contributions of national heroes and sacrifices of people. One gallery would be specified to create awareness about role of Pak armed forces in defence of motherland. One gallery would carry information on Kashmir movement and one gallery would show economic growth during the last few years including the project of China Pakistan Economic Corridor.

Starting its journey from Peshawar to Rawalpindi, the Azadi Train during the month-long journey would pass through Lahore, Multan, Faisalabad, Sukkhar, Bahawalpur, Hyderaber to Karachi and Quetta and would stay at each station for one to two days.

To rejoice the independence day with people across the country Managing Director Railway Carriage Factory, Muhammad Yusuf talking to APP said that special floats are being prepared to represent heritage, architecture and culture of Sindh, Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab, Gilgit Baltistan and Azad Jammu & Kashmir.

The national and local folk artists, army and police bands would represent art and traditional songs and music during the country wide cultural performances at all important railway stations.

He said for further attraction of the masses special documentaries and pictures highlighting the ideological foundations of Pakistan, sacrifices of the people, the efforts of national heroes in national building, cultural and traditional values and heritage of the four provinces would be displayed through projectors for the visitors.

President and Prime Minister of Pakistan, Governors and Chief Ministers of the four provinces, federal and provincial ministers, foreign diplomats, officers of Armed Forces and Civil Administrations, members of Chambers of Commerce, eminent scholars, educationists and students would be invited to visit the Azadi train and celebrate the independence day’s festivities with Pakistan Railways, he told APP.

Zeeshan Qaiser, a graduate from Peshawar University said that he was eagerly waiting to see the Azadi train in Peshawar, saying he along with his cousins and younger brother Ehtesham Qaiser have planned a programme to visit Peshawar Railway station for Azadi train as part of their independence celebrations.

He said, it would be a pride for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa that the train would commence its journey from Peshawar.

Qaiser Khan, a resident of Nowshera told APP that Azadi train was a good step of the Pakistan Railways that would help educate the youth about ideology of Pakistan and sacrifices rendered by our forefathers in creation of independent Muslim country for people of South Asia.

“I will take my children on August 14 to Peshawar to see Azadi train and the documentaries to be displayed by the railways authorities at different galleries of the train,” he said.

He said it would enhance the knowledge of his children about Pakistan besides re-boosting spirit of patriotism and nationalism among young generation.