Lahore Shopping Festival: 28 vintage cars paraded

Car owners urge govt to arrange similar rallies at least twice a year.

LAHORE:

Twenty-eight vintage cars drove to the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) officer from the Liberty round-about in Gulberg on Tuesday. The rally was organised by the LCCI as a part of the ongoing Lahore Shopping Festival.

Most of the cars were more than 50 years old, all purchased second hand and maintained by their current owners. The cars included various models of Mercedes, Nissan, Morris, Volks Wagon, Jaguar and Rolls Royce.

Khalid Akram, the owner of a Morris told The Express Tribune that he felt very good about the rally. “This is the only practical way of bringing together classic cars in the city.”

The owners of these vintage cars urged the government to arrange such rallies at least twice a year. They said such events would help project a soft image of Pakistan.

Akram said that he had purchased this car back in 1970 for Rs30,000. He said he had travelled a lot in this car. “I once drove from Lahore to Islamabad in just three hours.” Akram said that the only problem with keeping a classic car was the non-availability of spares. He said like many vintage car owners, he too had to import the spares from abroad, usually England.

Most owners posed with their cars for photographers. Spectators were also allowed to pose with the cars with permission from the owners.

Anjum Ali, a student of the National College of Arts, was among one of the photographers present at the event. “I have never seen so many vintage cars together. It’s like a scene from a movie,” she said.

Ali said that she had come over with some friends to photograph the cars. “For a photographer, it’s a dream come true,” she added.

Punjab Assembly Deputy Speaker Rana Mashhood escorted the cars on their route after inaugurating the rally. He appreciated the efforts of the LCCI in organising the shopping festival. “This event will not only entertain Lahoris, but also help attract and promote business,” he said. The deputy speaker said that the Punjab government have been and will always favour such activities that promoted Pakistan at international level.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 6^th, 2011.