Azadi Train starts cross-country journey today
islamabad — Pakistan Railways special ‘Azadi Train’ is set to start its journey from Margalla Railway Station Islamabad on Saturday to its first destination, Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Carriage Factory Islamabad Managing Director Mohammed Yusuf said that the train would cover about 4,000km distance within 15 days which would be culminated in Karachi.
He said that the train will stop at all the big stations for two to three hours where musical programmes and cultural dances by artistes would be organised by Pakistan National Council of the Arts (PNCA) for entertaining the public participating in Independence Day celebrations.
Yusuf said that ‘Azadi Train’ will have coaches representing culture and traditions of all the four provinces, Azad Kashmir and GilgitBaltistan.
“The main objectives for running this train are to highlight the aspects of Freedom Movement, sacrifices of armed forces for the defence of the country and culture and heritage of all the regions,” Yousuf said.
The artists of PNCA would also hold a puppet show on national themes as part of the Independence Day programmes, an official said. The train will be inaugurated by Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb, said a Press release issued by the Ministry of Railways.
The ministry of Railways has invited diplomats, parliamentarians and federal secretaries to attend the event. Secretary Ministry of Railways Parveen Agha visited the Carriage Factory Islamabad in order to check the making of ‘Azadi Train’.
She appreciated the efforts of the factory managing director and his team. Parveen also appreciated efforts of Railway’s Rawalpindi Division and Lahore Division for the expedition of Azadi Train. According to schedule issued by the Ministry of Railways, the train will start its journey from Margalla Station on August 12 and after making stopovers at several railway stations across Pakistan will culminate at Karachi Cantt Station on August 25. — APP