PESHAWAR: The Tourism Corporation of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa for the time in the history of the province organised a daylong safari train trip from Peshawar to Attock Khurd for the local transgender persons on Tuesday.

“We provided transgender persons with a unique and perhaps the first-ever opportunity to go on train safari and know about the rich heritage of the province,” Hayat Ali Shah, senior general manager, told journalists as the decorated train started moving towards the historic Attock Khurd.

Hasina Shaukat, marketing and media head of TCKP, TransAction president Farzana Jan, general secretary Aarzo, chairman Sikh community Radesh Singh Toni, civil society members Taimur Kamal and Zahoor Durrani were also present on the occasion.

Ms Shaukat said that TCKP was starting a training programme for the tour guides. She said that transgender persons could also avail the opportunity. She added that they had also arranged train tour for the minority communities in the past and would do so in future.

The picnickers enjoyed the trip when they passed through various railway stations including Pabbi, Nowshera, Khushal Kot, Akora Khattak, Jehangira, the Indus River and Attock Bridge.

They were also briefed about the historic perspective of the train track and various railway stations.

Attock Khurd, located in Attock district of Punjab, houses the historical Attock Fort built by Mughal King Akbar in 1581. Bahram Ki Baradari is another Mughal-era monument situated at the ridge of mountains on the southern side of the Grand Trunk Road near Attock Khurd.

The transgender persons enjoyed live instrumental music on this excursion. A number of fun filled recreational activities and competitions were also arranged at the riverbank like kite flying, camel ride, tug-of-war, uphill race, archery and making selfies.

Farzana Jan said that it was a good approach of the authorities to boost domestic tourism and provide entertainment opportunity to her community.

She said it was a source of enjoyment and learning experience for the people belonging to the hitherto neglected community.

She urged other government departments follow in the steps of TCKP.

Published in Dawn, November 22nd, 2017