KARACHI:  The Independence Special Train (Azadi Train) Exhibition, which attracted a large number of enthusiastic visitors, concluded on Thursday night.

The Azadi train was  warmly welcomed on its arrival in the city on September 08 with 110 people on board, including artists and crew members.

The train had started  its tour from Peshawar on August 12 and it formally left on its journey from Margalla Railway Station Islamabad on August 14.

The beautifully decorated carriages of the special train displayed the culture of Sindh, Balochistan, Punjab and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, as well as FATA, Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Kashmir.

There were also portraits of Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah, the heroes belonging to the armed forces, other national heroes and the pictures about the country's history.

A closing ceremony was held at the Karachi's Cantonment Railway Station on Thursday night, with DS Railway Karachi Nisar Ahmed Memon invited as the chief guest.

Speaking on the occasion, the DS Railways said that the purpose to organise Azadi train journey was to highlight the significance of freedom, history and culture of all the four provinces for the new generation.

He said that the Pakistan Railways would continue to keep up the tradition of organising such informative programmes.

Nisar Ahmed Memon said that they have achieved the purpose of this endeavour as the exhibition will help create awareness in the new generation about their history and culture, and how did their forefathers achieve Independence.

He said that a large number of people from Karachi and Hyderabad visited the Azadi train and this Federal Government's endeavour is being widely appreciated.

The DS Railways said the special train not only housed exhibits about culture of the four provinces, it had also photo galleries highlighting achievements of the armed forces.

The crew, artists and other people who came aboard the train were presented Ajrak. Folk singers also presented national songs on the occasion.

Later, talking to the media, the DS Railways said that the Pakistan Railways has come out of deficit, as it has started cargo service.

He lauded Railways Minister Khawaja Saad Rafique for his efforts to pull the Pakistan Railways out of crisis, which has revived the confidence of people on train services.

Source: APP