The Sindh Ministry of Culture and Tourism announced the launch of the Thar Desert Train Safarian initiative aimed at promoting tourism and highlighting the cultural wealth of the province.
The announcement was made at a meeting chaired by Provincial Minister for Culture and Tourism Syed Zulfiqar Ali Shah, which was attended by representatives of the Karachi Tour Operators Association, Express News reported.
Speaking at the meeting, Shah confirmed that the maiden voyage of Thar Desert Train Safari is scheduled for the second week of February.
The train will run from Karachi to Khokhrapar, passing through Hyderabad, Mirpurkhas and Chhor, offering passengers a glimpse of Sindh’s vibrant culture and stunning desert landscapes.
“This initiative will showcase the cultural and natural beauty of Sindh,” Shah said.
“We are also planning a jeep rally in Tharparkar and a two-day Lahooti festival in Larkana from February 15, in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture and Tourism.”
Shah stressed the need for tour operators and businesses to focus on developing Sindh’s tourism potential. He highlighted the government’s commitment to developing tourism, saying, “Under the vision of President Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, we aim to make Sindh a hub of cultural and tourism activities.
The safari is part of a broader strategy to boost tourism in Sindh, including the development of new attractions and the promotion of local festivals.
Last year, in a bid to boost tourism, the Sindh government announced substantial reductions in fees for filming, fiction, commercial videos, photography and wedding shootings at various cultural and historical sites.
This initiative was led by Provincial Minister for Culture and Tourism Syed Zulfiqar Ali Shah.
According to a statement from the ministry, filming fees in Mohenjo-Daro and Makli have been significantly reduced from Rs200,000 to just Rs50,000. Additionally, registration fees at the Quaid-e-Azam house museum have been reduced from 100,000 rupees to 30,000 rupees.
The new fees for other notable sites include a discount for Maki House Museum in Hyderabad, Kot Diji Fort and Naukot Fort, now set at Rs 30,000 instead of Rs 100,000.
Similarly, the shooting charges at Umar Kot Fort and Museum, Rani Kot Fort, Chaukundi Graveyard and Bhambore Fort have also been fixed at Rs 30,000.
