Bon voyage: South Punjab bids Azadi Train adieu

RAHIM YAR KHAN: The Azadi Train, which left Islamabad’s Margalla Station on August 11, was welcomed by scores of enthusiastic citizens in Khairpur, Sammasata, Dera Nawab Sahib and Liaquatpur rail stations on Thursday.

Railway officials said long queues of citizens were seen at the railway stations and junctions. Most of the visitors were students of nearby public schools. Many of them carried the national flag and shouted Pakistan Zindabad. Performances by artists of the Pakistan National Council of the Arts opened to much applause. Muhammad Akram, one of the students, said, “Walking in the art galleries of the train was like taking a visual lesson in the history and culture of our country.”

One of the school teachers accompanying the students said she was glad that her students had had a chance to visit the Azadi Train and get exposure to native cultures. “The train has been decorated beautifully…most of the students here will take important lessons in history back with them.”

Usman Khan, a resident of Liaqatpur, said he had never seen such a large crowd of people in Liaquatpur before.

The train arrived in Sukkur late on Thursday night.

The Azadi Train has been organised by the Pakistan Railways and the Ministry of Information, Broadcasting and National Heritage.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 26^th, 2016.