Kathmandu:

People waving small flags of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) countries had lined up at the Basantapur Durbar Square to flag off the SAARC Car Rally 2007 on the morning of March 25.

And at around 7:00 am, the sticker-studded cars roared into the square accompanied by the blowing of siren.

Speaker of the Interim Legislative-Parliament, Subas C Nembang, was the chief guest at the flagging off ceremony. Speaking on the occasion, he highlighted the need for more people-to-people contact among the member nations to foster a distinct SAARC identity in the world.

The rally had rolled into Kathmandu from Pokhara on March 24 after having blazed through almost 3,000 km across Bangladesh, Bhutan and India.

A special welcome ceremony had been organised on Saturday evening at the Hyatt Regency for the members of the car rally by the Federation of Nepalese Chamber of Commerce and Industries.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs KP Sharma Oli was the chief guest at the programme, which was also graced by Minister for Education and Sports Dr Mangal Siddhi Manandhar and the Finance Minister Dr Ramsharan Mahat, and other high level dignitaries.

“It’s been an amazing experience. The way we were welcomed to all the places we have been has been heartwarming. But I was a bit scared to travel at the speed of 120-130 km per hour which we frequently reached,” said Durga B Thapa, one of the eight participants representing Nepal in the rally.

“We started as seven teams, but now we’re a single team,” remarked the affable chief coordinator on behalf of the Confederation of Indian Industries for the rally in Nepal, Vikram Badshah.

Minister Oli opined that the rally has gone a long way in fostering a good people-to-people contact. “It has brought us together in an unprecedented manner,” he said, and also congratulated all the participants.

A cultural programme highlighting the cultural wealth and diversity of Nepal was also organised at the occasion.

The 30 cars in the rally were bound for Lumbini, from where they will head to India.

The car rally across the SAARC nations has been organised with the intention to strengthen ‘Frienship, Harmony, Peace and Trade,’ between the member nations. It also wishes to make possible the operation of same currency, visa, and driving licence in the region.