After a gruelling 18-day journey spanning thousands of kilometres, seven Pakistani bikers concluded their “Lahore-Istanbul Rally” in Istanbul, Turkiye, to fortify the bonds of friendship between Pakistan and Turkiye.
The team, led by 57-year-old Mukaram Tareen, embarked from Lahore on October 11, passing through Iran before reaching Turkiye. The journey aimed to celebrate these friendly Islamic nations’ shared cultural and historical ties, highlighting Istanbul’s profound connections to Lahore.
Upon arriving in Istanbul, Tareen and his team took a tour through the Fatih district, where they found the city’s narrow streets and historic texture reminiscent of Lahore. “Walking through Istanbul, we sometimes felt like we were in Lahore. The similarity in the people, shops, and ancient walls is striking,” Tareen shared with Anadolu Agency.
The group covered 300 to 400 kilometres daily throughout their travels, engaging with local communities and fellow motorcyclists from Iran and Turkiye. These interactions paved the way for an invitation extended to Turkish motorcyclists to visit Pakistan, hoping to boost tourism exchanges between the two countries.
Tareen emphasized the broader implications of their rally, expressing hope that it would spark stronger tourism cooperation and encourage Pakistan to invest in preserving its historical sites.
Looking ahead, he revealed plans for future expeditions to Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan to extend the warm relations fostered with Turkiye to other nations.
Munawar Hussain, a 43-year-old group member, reflected on the unique insights gained from motorcycle travel compared to flying. “Traveling by bike allows you to see the smaller towns and truly understand Turkiye, unlike the limited perspective air travel offers”.
