Pakistani cyclist peddles across the country in 186 days

Abdur Rehman Palwa covered approximately 21,650 kilometres in his journey across Pakistan

LAHORE: Abdur Rehman Palwa began his quest to cycle across the country in October 2017 from Lahore – 186 days later he arrived in Islamabad having realised that finally his dream came true.

READY, SET, GO! PHOTO: EXPRESS

It took 13 days for the ambitious cyclist to reach his first destination: Rawalpindi – a journey of 1,000 kilometres.

He then peddled to Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) and the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata), spending around 20 days in areas including Waziristan, Gilgit-Baltistan and Dera Ismail Khan.

He even cycled up Shandoor Top located at a height of 12,000 feet.

GETTING A GREEN SIGNAL . PHOTO: EXPRESS

The next stop for the enthusiast was Balochistan where he covered Gwadar, Qila Saifullah and Mastong before making his way to Sindh.

Palwa spent 38 days in the province, peddling across Karachi, Hyderabad, Thar and Kashmore.

A CYCLE OF FRIENDSHIP. PHOTO: EXPRESS

During his approximately 21, 650 kilometre-long journey, the man-on-the-wheel stayed at hotels, friends’ houses and even locals who he befriended.

Speaking about the difficult terrains, Palwa said cycling up to Shandoor top was particularly challenging.

WRITING ON THE WALL. PHOTO: EXPRESS

The cyclist went on to say that he aimed to dethrone the Guinness World Record set by an Indian cyclist for the “longest journey by bicycle in a single country”.

SHOWING THE WAY. PHOTO: EXPRESS