ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Nasirul Mulk on Monday inaugurated the showcasing of two vintage cars at the Pakistan Monument, which have remained under use of the country’s heads of the state and the government and also the visiting dignitaries from time to time.
The Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow and the Mercedes Pullman S600 is a gift from the Prime Minister’s Office to the Pakistan Monument Museum, which have been put on display for the general public. Prime Minister Mulk had taken the decision to restore and preserve the vintage cars and ordered their placement at the museum, instead of an earlier proposal of their auction.
During his visit to the museum, the prime minister expressed the hope that showcasing of the cars would help the young and coming generations learn about Pakistan’s history and also the tradition of hospitality rendered to the visiting foreign guests. He took round of the museum and evinced keen interest in the vintage cars which he termed as witness to an important part of the national history.
Lok Virsa Executive Director Shahera Shahid said that Hakkas (Pvt) Limited had volunteered to restore the glorious cars complimentarily in the spirit of preserving the valued national heritage. She expressed confidence that the vintage cars would attract more visitors at the unique museum which offers glimpses of history through three-dimensional dioramas.
Built in 1970, the luxurious Mercedes Pullman S600 was imported by the government the same year and remained in the use of then President General Yahya Khan and Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto. The visiting dignitaries who used the car included Palestine’s President Yaser Arafat, Egypt’s President Anwar Saddat, Libya’s President Colonel Moammar Gaddafi, Saudi King Faisal bin Abdul Aziz and other leaders.
Built in 1976, the Rolls Royce Silver Shadow was gifted by Shah Khalid Bin Abdul Aziz to then Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto. It remained under the used of Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, Prince Karim Aga Khan, Saudi’s Shah Khaklid bin Abdul Aziz, UAE’s Sheikh Sultan Bin Al Nahyan, Princess Diana, Boxer Muhammad Ali and the leaders of China, Japan, Thailand, Bangladesh and Nepal.
Earlier, the Prime Minister’s Office was set to auction off the car on June 22 but when the matter was brought to the attention of the caretaker prime minister, he ordered for the cancellation of the auction and directed that the historical cars be placed in a museum. Three car enthusiasts – Haris Aziz, Karim Yusuf and Moin Abbasi – played a major role in highlighting the issue and wrote to the cabinet secretary on June 19 for the cancellation of the auction.