SAARC Car Rallyists enchanted by charming Lahore

The participants of the Saarc Car Rally got an opportunity to savour the sights and sights of Lahore on the last evening of the expedition's Pakistan leg.The convoy, which was flagged off from Islamabad  by Pakistan Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz, reached  Lahore in the evening via the Grand Trunk Road and  in  the absence of any official engagements, was awarded  the liberty to spend time as per their wishes.

The journey from Islamabad to Lahore took seven   hours, much more than the one on the previous day  when  the caravan took the expressway motorway to reach  the Pakistan capital. However, the longer journey allowed the  rallyists  to see a slice of Pakistani life with various  cities,  towns and villages lined up along the G T Road.

Some of the rallyists went to the various famous  markets in Lahore while some of the others went for sight-seeing.

Most people were waiting for this chance as they  had heard a lot about the attractions of the city.  Lahore is an enchanting city which leaves a mark on  everyone who comes there. As the language, culture,   way of dressing and food habits are quite similar to  those in India, one had to constantly remind oneself  that it was a foreign country.

Lahore offers an enchanting night life and the  participants formed groups to go out of the hotel.  Most of them did not know the way round the city but  the local people displayed their helpfulness in  guiding the rallyists to wherever they wanted to go.

Those looking for branded and upmarket products  made their way to Liberty Market while those wanting  to buy ethnic and local stuff typical of the place  went to Anarkali Market.

They got local currency in exchange at the hotel   and made their contribution to Saarc trade at the  various fancy and decorated markets.

The married men folk especially went to buy  embroiered suits for their better halves as well as  footwear which is also embedded with decorative  stuff.

The shopkeepers displayed their warmheartedness  and patience in showing all the products they had.  They became extra helpful and charming once they   were  told that the customers had come from India.

The rallyists did not have enough time to go  through all the shops and had to quickly find what  they were looking for.

But the most memorable part of the evening was  the  dinner at Food Street in Gawal Mandi which was an  amazing experience for everyone who went there for  the first time.

The place is a straight road closed at both ends   and people can only go in on foot. There are food  stalls lining up on both sides and the shops are  lighted up and decorated at night presenting a  beautiful sight.

There are chairs and tables on the road and people  enjoy the fare sitting outside in the pedestrian  plaza.

The food, especially the non-vegetarian stuff, was  mouth-watering and the participants, who assembled  at  Food Street after their shopping and sight-seeing stints, gorged themselves on the delicacies.

Shops are open till quite late at night and the  people come out at leisure after finishing their   day's  work. The markets always present a busy look during
 evenings.

 The public transport in the city is also pretty  unique with its own version of the auto-rickshaw and  what the locals sometimes refer to as the  auto-tanga.  PTI TUS

Sourced From: Confederation of Indian Industry