GILGIT: The Pak-China Frien­d­­s­hip Car Rally arrived here from China’s Xinjiang region through the Khunjerab Pass on Friday.

The rally, comprising 20 cars with 52 people, including media representatives, is meant to high­­­­­­light the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

Representatives of the Gilgit-Baltistan government, including Minister for Works Dr Mohammad Iqbal, GB Council Member Arman Shah and government and military officials, received the participants of the rally at Zero Point, near the Pak-China Khunjerab Pass border.

A ceremony was held in Sost where flags of the two countries were hoisted and national anthems played. Speaking at the ceremony, Dr Iqbal said the rally would strengthen both countries’ economic, cultural and diplomatic relations.

“The rally will highlight the importance of the CPEC project and its benefits for the people of the region,” he said.

The minister expressed the hope that the Chinese guests would highlight GB’s potential for tourism abroad.

Pakistan’s political attache in Beijing accompanied the rally. Speaking on the occasion, he said the main aim of the rally was to highlight the CPEC project and the Silk Road route passing through the main cities of Pakistan.

The rally’s participants were then taken from Sost to Gilgit on the Karakoram Highway. Talking to Dawn, Dr Iqbal said the rally had been organised by the China’s biggest tour company. The rally’s participants will depart from Gilgit on Saturday. According to the authorities, the rally will pass through Punjab, Sindh and Gwadar and then would go to Iran and from there to the UAE.

Published in Dawn, October 15th, 2016