LAHORE: The launching ceremony of Sight Seeing Lahore Bus Service from Gaddafi Stadium, Football Ground, to Wagah Border, was held amid festivity and celebrations on Saturday, by the Tourism Development Corporation of Punjab (TDCP).

The ceremony featured jhoomar, a traditional dance and songs on Lahore, while beautifully decorated double-decker buses to be used for sightseeing were displayed at the venue.

The TDCP has dedicated a five-bus fleet for the route which would ply from the stadium to the border round the week, charging Rs300 per person fare for the trip.

On Saturday, a large number of guests, including families of rangers personnel, traveled to the Wagah Border by these buses.

On the occasion, a cake-cutting ceremony was also held amidst dhol beats and bhangra. A 10-pound cake (a model of a double-decker bus) was cut by TDCP Managing Director Ahmer Malik, along with Punjab tourism department secretary and other officials.

Mozzam Nazir, the manager of the bus service told Dawn that to Wagha Border a new route had been launched, so that the tourists could witness the flag-lowering ceremony there. He said an exclusive enclosure at the Wagah Border had been reserved for those taking the tour by the buses.

The event also marked the second anniversary of the Sight Seeing Lahore Bus Service, which was launched on Nov 25, 2015.

A salient feature of the tour was participation of film stars including Shan and Humaima Malik.

The MD while speaking on the occasion thanked Rangers for their great support and Punjab government.

He said the service had been very successful and was opted by a great number of tourists to tour Lahore. He hoped the new route would also be a success story.

Published in Dawn, December 10th, 2017