Such a long journey: ‘Peace jeeps’ leave City for Cholistan rally

Mashhood says time ripe to promote message of peace.

LAHORE:

Sports Minister Rana Mashhood said on Thursday that the time was ripe to promote the message of peace.

He was speaking at an event organised to flag off a 10-jeep contingent to participate in the Cholistan Jeep Rally. The initiative has been taken to promote peace. Khan said the youth of the nation was the best medium to promote peace since it was the future of the nation. He said the government had resolved to eradicate terrorism without any distinction between good and bad militants. He felicitated the organisers of the event for providing the youth with an international platform to display their talent and engaging them in a positive manner.



Higher Education Commission (HEC) Chairperson Nizamuddin appreciated the endeavour. He said it had provided the young with an opportunity to participate in an event that had been earlier been the exclusive reserve of professional drivers.

The contingent was flagged off amid festivity and celebration. The contingent, billed as peace jeeps, is scheduled to arrive in Cholistan on Saturday. The jeeps will participate in the rally to pay tribute to victims of terrorist attacks. Some of the jeeps had pictures of those killed in the Peshawar carnage pasted on them. Others carried pictures of doves and the national flag.

Youth Department Secretary Muhammad Khan Khichi, Sports Board Director General Usman Anwar and Bargad-Organisation for Youth Development executive director Sabiha Shaheen were also present on the occasion.

The peace rally has been organised by Individual-land, The Youth Parliament of Pakistan Coordination Unit, the Islamabad Jeep Club and the Youth Department.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 13^th, 2015.