A group of seven Pakistani motorcyclists have completed their friendship journey by reaching their final destination Istanbul.

The group members followed the Iranian route to Turkey on their journey, which they called the "Lahore-Istanbul Rally" to strengthen Pakistan-Turkey friendship. They traveled approximately eight thousand kilometers.

Arriving at their destination in Istanbul after eighteen days, the group led by Mukaram Tareen said they started their journey from Lahore on October eleven and then went to Iran and later to Turkiye.

Mukaram Tareen said Pakistan, Iran and Turkiye are friendly Islamic countries and our culture, food and friendships are based on hundreds of years of history. Istanbul is a deep-rooted city like Lahore, so we wanted to continue this journey to Istanbul.

He said reaching Istanbul symbolizes the strong friendship between Pakistan and Turkiye.

Mukaram Tareen pointed out that the narrow streets and historical texture of Lahore are similar to Istanbul. He said while walking through the narrow streets of Istanbul, we felt like we are in Lahore at times.

He said we invited Turkish motorcyclists to Pakistan and with this trip we aim to promote tourism exchange between the two countries.

The group leader of the Pakistani motorcyclists said they are planning to visit Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan on their next trip.

Earlier, Pakistan Embassy in Ankara also hosted a ceremony in honour of the motorcyclists.

Welcoming the motorcyclists, Pakistan Ambassador Dr. Yousaf Junaid said the remarkable expedition not only illustrated the spirit of adventure, but also served as a testament to the enduring bonds of brotherhood and friendship between the two countries.

He emphasized that such initiatives would contribute to further promoting people-to-people connections and mutual understanding, especially among the younger generations.

While sharing their experiences of the journey, the group leader Mukaram Tareen thanked the Ambassador and the governments of both Pakistan and Turkiye for facilitating the expedition.