RAWALPINDI: Pakistan Railways is launching a weekly ‘Safari Tourist Train’ from Rawalpindi to Attock Khurd on Feb 14.

The day-trip safari train will pass through the beautiful landscape of potohar consisting of Margalla Hills, Sangjani tunnel and many minor and major bridges like Chablal Bridge, Haro Bridge, Ghazi Borotha and Attock Khurd bridges, according to Divisional Superintendent of Pakistan Railways, Munawwar Shah.

The journey starting from Rawalpindi station will end at historic Attock Khurd Station after passing through Golra, Taxila, Hassanabdal and Attock city railway stations.

The Safari Train is being launched by Pakistan Railways in collaboration with the Tourism Development Corporation of Punjab and Commissioner Rawalpindi, he said.

Pakistan Railways Chairman Habibur Rehman Gilani said that economic development and progress of Pakistan are closely linked with Pakistan and tourism, and Pakistan Railways is serving both purposes.

The safari train is an opportunity for domestic as well as international tourists to glance at the beautiful landscape of Potohar region.

Pakistan Railways will continue supporting tourism in the country and more such projects would be launched, he said.

All the five railway stations – from Rawalpindi to Attock Khurd – were built between 1880 and 1893.

The safari train will also pass through the old iron girder bridge, which is the most important, strategic and commercial cross on the Indus between Punjab and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.

It was constructed in 1883 by Sir Guildford Moresworth costing Rs3.2 million, and was redesigned by Sir Favanics in 1929.

The bridge has two levels and five spars, making length of bridge to 569 feet.

Published in Dawn, February 7th, 2021