Unique Travel Adventure of Auto Rickshaw "Battuta" - From Islamabad to London
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00:00Look at how beautiful this rickshaw is.
00:02What a magnificent view of the culture of Pakistan.
00:05This rickshaw is basically named Batuta.
00:10Is it a travel agency?
00:12Yes, it is a travel agency.
00:14It will start from Pakistan and end in London.
00:18Three Pakistani commanders, retired Abdul Marek Qureshi,
00:20left handed commander retired Syed Nasir Hussain,
00:22and a Kailash woman, Musarrat.
00:24Iran, Turkey, Greece, Italy, Switzerland,
00:28will travel in the rickshaw of France and Britain.
00:30How much time will it take?
00:32It will be very interesting.
00:33One more thing,
00:35this year, 14th August,
00:40will be the start of this expedition.
00:41It will end at the Bakhingam Palace.
00:46If this team is successful,
00:48the first Pakistanis to travel in the rickshaw of seven countries
00:51will become the first Pakistanis.
00:53Let's talk about the challenge.
00:55Let's talk about the challenge.
00:56Batuta is a travel agency.
00:58It will be a part of the rickshaw of Pakistan Navy.
01:02Expedition leader, left handed commander, retired Syed Nasir Hussain Rizvi,
01:05and Pakistan Navy member commander, retired Abdul Marek Qureshi.
01:09Both of you are with us.
01:10Thank you both so much.
01:13First of all, we would like to know,
01:14Sir, let's start with you.
01:15Mr. Nasir, please tell us,
01:17how did you come up with this idea?
01:19I really liked it.
01:20But it seems difficult.
01:22First of all, tell us how did you come up with this idea?
01:27In the name of God,
01:28first of all, thank you for inviting us to Air Vibe.
01:32And as far as I remember,
01:35after the service was over,
01:39we said that passion is basically overlanding.
01:42This is called overlanding.
01:43So we thought of doing something for the country after retirement.
01:47That was our plan from 2023.
01:50We couldn't do it in 2023.
01:51Then we got a phone call from the office.
01:53We asked them why Batuta?
01:57We gave the concept of a rickshaw because,
02:00you know Batuta is a famous Moroccan Muslim explorer.
02:04So we said this is our Pakistani Batuta.
02:06It comes on three wheels.
02:10We said we have done it on four wheels,
02:12and two wheels.
02:13Then we said we want to show the image of Pakistan.
02:17We are carrying Pakistan abroad.
02:19So we asked what could be added to the culture?
02:21We said rickshaw is a part of our culture.
02:25So we said we will take it.
02:26It will be challenging and unique.
02:29We haven't done it before.
02:30So we said let's do it.
02:31Then we did it in truck art.
02:33Great.
02:33We did everything.
02:34Okay, tell me one thing.
02:36Abdul Malik, I wanted to know,
02:39you have a Kailashi lady with you.
02:42So synchronization is also very important for the three of you.
02:47Secondly, we travel in Karachi,
02:50so we have realized that the most difficult sessions are of rickshaw.
02:54If you travel even one kilometer,
02:56your back hurts.
02:58So have you managed any special seats for this?
03:01Are there any special facilities in this rickshaw?
03:05Assalamualaikum, Pakistan.
03:09The first part of your question,
03:12we are both course mates.
03:14Okay.
03:14So our synchronization has been going on for the last 30 years.
03:18Wow.
03:19So we have very good bonding.
03:21And the Kailashi girl with us,
03:24she is very physically good, tough.
03:29And because her area is like a mountain,
03:33so she is fit.
03:34As far as your question about the seats,
03:38we will make some modifications in this.
03:40We will put car seats in this.
03:42Because there are no shocks in this,
03:46so it will not run on the motorways,
03:49it will run on the national highways.
03:51Okay.
03:51And the traffic restrictions of the motorways,
03:55you know the roads there,
03:59so there are a lot of jumps in that.
04:02It is not a comfortable vehicle.
04:05So in this, since the journey is very long,
04:08we will modify the seats in this.
04:11And secondly,
04:13the speed is limited.
04:16The CCs are less.
04:18So this will be a big challenge for you.
04:20You might want to go fast,
04:21but you won't be able to because of the limited speed.
04:24Will you make any modifications in this?
04:26We have planned the entire passage of this.
04:30Okay.
04:31And in that passage planning,
04:33we will not drive it at high speed,
04:36because of the speed restrictions.
04:40Okay.
04:41Since the journey is very long,
04:43it is more than 60 days.
04:45Aha.
04:45So according to our passage planning,
04:50we will drive it for a maximum of 60 km per hour,
04:55otherwise it would be 50 km per hour.
04:59Okay.
05:00So if it takes 60 days,
05:01can it be more than that?
05:04Because you have travelled from many countries.
05:07No, the entire journey is calculated.
05:09Okay.
05:11It is calculated and it will take 60 days to reach there.
05:16Okay.
05:16The entire passage planning is done by the expedition leader.
05:19One more thing.
05:20I want to add on to this.
05:21Yes, yes, yes.
05:22I want to add on to this.
05:23Yes, yes, please do.
05:26I just want to add on to this.
05:27When we made the passage,
05:28when there is a journey,
05:30we have given 50 km speed limitations.
05:35But basically Iran, Turkey and Greece,
05:39basically Iran and Turkey are the longer routes.
05:43Motorways are not allowed,
05:44so we have kept the national highways.
05:46Okay.
05:47So in this,
05:49we have kept a maximum of 200 km per day.
05:52We have to start early in the morning and end at night.
05:55The important thing is that we are doing this through the foreign office.
05:58Okay.
05:59We have call-ons from ambassadors,
06:02call-ons from mayors,
06:03lectures from universities and colleges.
06:05Okay.
06:06We have kept 2-3 days extra for the capitals.
06:10So that they can interact and show their culture.
06:12This is very important.
06:13We have kept a safe hand.
06:14Okay, tell me one more thing.
06:15The total is 10,000 km,
06:18which is manageable and humanly possible.
06:21Okay, one thing is that only three of you will travel in this rickshaw,
06:24or there will be seven other vehicles.
06:27And all three of us will drive it.
06:29And all three of us will drive it.
06:30The other thing is that the weather is very harsh,
06:33the vehicle stops.
06:35There is a different environment inside the vehicle.
06:37You can control the climate inside the vehicle.
06:39How will you manage this?
06:41Will it be cold or hot?
06:43How would you do that?
06:45The driving will be done by both of us.
06:49Okay.
06:50But we will make our third partner operational.
06:53If needed, she will also do the driving.
06:57Otherwise, the driving will be done by both of us.
07:00Okay.
07:01Actually, I would like to add that it is a team work.
07:04Team work is important.
07:06So, if there is an issue with the frequency of all three of us,
07:10I always say that it's not the destination, it's the journey.
07:14The journey is important.
07:15And things come in the journey.
07:17Those things and obstacles make the journey beautiful.
07:22They make it memorable.
07:24They make it memorable.
07:26I wanted to know that how will you handle the harsh weather in this rickshaw?
07:33Okay.
07:34Let's see.
07:35The concept in our mind is that we are going to another country.
07:39This is called overlanding.
07:41First of all, we are not going to the moon.
07:44We are going to a community.
07:46We are going to a society.
07:47It's a new country.
07:48Everything is available there.
07:50There are workshops and mechanics.
07:52We have done OGT, which is called on-job training.
07:55Okay.
07:56We have done it for 2-3 days.
07:57So, we can easily manage.
07:58We are taking spares.
07:59Okay.
08:01Temperatures are not harsh.
08:03We have selected the time period.
08:06Temperatures are not hard.
08:08Okay.
08:09So, it's comfortable.
08:11Okay.
08:12We wish you the best.
08:13In the month of August, the weather gets better.
08:16Yes.
08:17But there can be rains and other conditions.
08:19But we will tell you…
08:20But they will be on call.
08:21And of course, this is to make Pakistan proud.
08:24What is your family's response to this?
08:27They must be very excited about that.
08:29And they must be a little concerned like us.
08:33Yes.
08:34Families are very supportive.
08:36Absolutely.
08:38My better half is full of support.
08:42And the kids are very excited.
08:44Yes.
08:45And I would like to add one more thing.
08:47In our overland expedition,
08:50we have got the full support of the government.
08:54Our information and cultural minister,
08:56Mr. Atta Tariq has met him.
08:58Okay.
08:59He is very supportive.
09:00So, we need diplomatic support from the government.
09:05It is there from the foreign office.
09:07And the cultural minister has given us a lot of support.
09:11And I would like to add one more thing.
09:14All the work we have done so far,
09:17we have done it on a self-financed basis.
09:19Oh.
09:20Great.
09:21And now we are looking for support from local brands.
09:27Because there is a promotion of Pakistan's flag.
09:33Absolutely.
09:34Our peace-loving nation is friendly.
09:36So, we would like local brands and local companies
09:42to support us in exporting their products abroad
09:47so that we can take their logo abroad.
09:52Absolutely.
09:53I would like to add one more thing.
09:55Yes.
09:56I am sorry to interrupt you.
09:58Basically, this is not one leg.
10:00This is an expedition in three legs.
10:02In the first leg, we have planned to go to London.
10:04In the second leg, if we are lucky next year,
10:07we will go from London to Africa.
10:09Great.
10:10And the third?
10:11Yes.
10:12And in the third leg,
10:13we will go from there to the Pan-American Highway
10:15till the Arctic Pude Bay.
10:16We will cross the entire Dempster Highway.
10:18You will really make this rickshaw your batuta.
10:21Because it has a personality.
10:23This is your batuta.
10:24Yes, it has a personality.
10:26When we talk about Ibn-e-Batuta,
10:29he has spent 30 years in travelling.
10:34So, it is quite relatable.
10:37I am sure that you will do this journey successfully.
10:39We wish you good luck.
10:42Because you are going on a great journey.
10:45Pakistan's flag and culture will be promoted.
10:48So, it will be great.