Hot wheels: IU’s new campus hosts vintage cars, basant mela

Students organise 'Vintage Era and Bo-Kata Fest' for their event management course.

KARACHI: A basant mela with a line-up of vintage cars drew over 4,000 people to Iqra University's (IU) new campus in North Karachi on Saturday.

Around 400 students had organised the 'Vintage Era and Bo-Kata Fest' as a project for their event management course. The event kicked off with a basant mela in the afternoon, with IU student Asad explaining that it was necessary to have cultural representation in such festivities. This was followed by a vintage car show, with auto enthusiasts from all over the city displaying their cars and motorbikes.

IU academics director Salman Abbasi claimed that North Karachi has never witnessed an event of this magnitude. "Since we are now here in this part of the city, we'll keep hosting events like this," he said, adding that the varsity administration had only facilitated the students by providing them with the space. "Our claim of not only excelling in academics but also in co-curricular activities stands vindicated."

For MBA student Wajahat Zahid, the spotlights on the hills near the campus along with the shiny cars on display gave the auto show an extra edge.

A candy-red Datsun 260C stole the show. Belonging to car lover Ahmed, the restored 1976 model was the centre of attention, being, according to him, completely original. "Every part is original, that's why all the car enthusiasts like it," he claimed, adding that it had a Toyota Supra engine with 550 horsepower.

Meanwhile, admirers also flocked to Rehan's 600cc travel edition Suzuki motorbike, which, according to him, was a very limited edition produced only in 2009 and 2010.

The car show was followed by a fashion show and a concert.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 11^th, 2015.