Plan to run Azadi Train derailed

Locomotive with floats depicting Pakistan history rusting

RAWALPINDI:

Likewise the previous year, Pakistan Railways has decided that the Azadi Train will not chug out from Margalla Railway Station for an all Pakistan tour this year too.

An apparent victim of political rivalry, the train depicting images of Pakistan Movement, cultures of the federating units and folk music and dance has been derailed because it was project of the PML-N government sources in the Pakistan Railways said.

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The Azadi Train is rusting at Islamabad Carriage Factory where it has been dumped with other special carriages and coaches. Prominent among the abandoned boogies are the special train of Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto which he used to tour the length of Pakistan in his public relation campaign. The train had fully equipped offices, kitchen, rooms for officers, officials and staff besides other anemities.

A once sought after bridal carriage also rests here which used to haul the bride, groom and baraat in brightly coloured plush compartments offering room service and honeymoon suite.

The Azadi Train last travelled in August 2017. The train comprising six floats that used to start its countrywide journey in the month of independence, depicting the cultures of Punjab, Sindh, K-P, Balochistan, Gilgit-Baltistan (G-B) and AJK will not blare its horns this year

Published in The Express Tribune, August 11^th, 2020.