KARACHI: A convoy of rare classics, vintage cars and modern luxury vehicles took to Karachi’s streets on Thursday as enthusiasts marked Pakistan’s 79th Independence Day with the 11th Annual Freedom Drive.
Organized by the Motor Club of Pakistan in collaboration with antique car collectors, the drive brought together multiple generations of automobile enthusiasts for a celebration that blended patriotism, nostalgia and a shared passion for automotive heritage.
The convoy began at historic Frere Hall, moved toward Mazar-e-Quaid, the mausoleum of Pakistan’s founder Muhammad Ali Jinnah, and was scheduled to conclude at Nishan-e-Pakistan along the city’s seafront.
The initiative was launched in 2015 as “Freedom Drive One” and has since become an annual Independence Day tradition in Karachi.
Razi Nayyer, president of the Motor Club of Pakistan and organizer of the rally, said the event was created to promote patriotism and nationalism, particularly among young people.
“We initiated this drive of classic, modern exclusive, and student cars back in 2015,” Nayyer told Pakistan TV Digital. “Today, Mashallah, we are holding our 11th Freedom Drive.”
He said the event had provided more than a decade of celebrating Independence Day through classic and distinctive automobiles.
Among the vehicles on display was a Jaguar that Nayyer said had once belonged to a former prime minister of Pakistan.
He said the car had also been used as a symbol of friendship and solidarity during a historic journey that took participants from Islamabad and Karachi to Istanbul, Türkiye.
For younger participants, the event offered an opportunity to explore a side of automotive culture rarely visible on Karachi’s streets.
Car enthusiast Sameer Malik said his interest in cars had become a shared passion with his father.
“It has been one of the absolute best ways for my father and me to maintain our close relationship and friendship,” Malik said.
For young visitor Shaheer, the convoy was also a chance to discover cars he would otherwise rarely see in one place.
“I've had the chance to see several new cars, but my absolute favourite is the blue Porsche 911,” he said. “I really love Porsches.”
Veteran collector Ishrat Khan said classic cars continued to attract a unique level of public attention.
“You could drive a brand-new, modern car worth 20 to 30 crore rupees on the road, and the general public won't even look at it,” Khan said.
“But if you have beautifully maintained a classic from the 1950s or 1970s, every single person on the street stops to admire it.”
The convoy featured vehicles spanning several decades, including meticulously restored antique sedans, Rolls-Royces, vintage four-wheel drives and other rare automobiles.
Some vehicles dated back to the 1950s, offering spectators a glimpse into Pakistan’s automotive history while adding a distinctive character to the Independence Day celebrations.
For the collectors, however, the drive was about more than displaying prized vehicles.
It brought generations together around a shared hobby while placing patriotism and national pride at the heart of a community celebration.
As the classic convoy moved through Karachi toward Mazar-e-Quaid and Nishan-e-Pakistan, the city’s streets became a moving showcase of Pakistan’s past, present and enduring Independence Day spirit.