ISLAMABAD: As the nation celebrated its 77th Independence Day, the northwestern Pakistani province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) organized a jeep and bike rally to highlight the tourism potential of the country’s northwestern tribal districts.
Pakistan achieved independence from British colonial rule on August 14, 1947, after Britain partitioned the subcontinent into two separate nations, Muslim-majority Pakistan and Hindu-majority India.
On the occasion, the KP tourism authority organized the Jashan-e-Azadi Waziristan jeep rally, which began from Peshawar’s Qayyum Stadium on Sunday and concluded in Dera Ismail Khan on Monday. The rally was participated in by more than 50 motorists who traversed through Razmak, North Waziristan, and South Waziristan.
“The event was part of the Independence Day festivities and aimed to promote tourism in the merged districts while highlighting the area’s beauty to the world,” the KP tourism authority said in a statement.
“It also aimed to explore the tourism potential of the merged districts, showcase the hospitality of tribal people, and assure visitors that they can enjoy the area’s beauty in a carefree environment.”
Jeeps are pictured during a jeep and bike rally starting from Peshawar’s Qayyum Stadium and ending in Dera Ismail Khan, Pakistan, on August 13, 2023. (Photo courtesy: @kptourism/Twitter)
Bordered by Afghanistan, Pakistan’s northwestern tribal regions, previously known as the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA), were once a hotbed of militancy. However, successive military operations after 2010 pushed militants out of these areas and later integrated them with the KP province in 2018.
The KP tourism authority said the purpose of the rally was to enhance the positive image of these districts and attract more tourists.
Upon the rally’s conclusion in Dera Ismail Khan, prizes were distributed among winners in various categories. The winners included Umar Khayam, Inamullah Sikndari, Basit, Rizwan Mashtandi, Tahir Suliman, Idress Quraishi, Zafar Baloch, Beru Mazari, Jamil Hamdani, Saqib Shah, Abu Bakar and Hameed.
