The national integration tour, named 'Karvan-E-Aman' (tour-de-peace), organised by Romeo Force under army's Sadbhavna initiatives, was flagged off by Commander of Sector Rashtriya Rifles, Surankote, a Defence spokesman said here.
The group of 22 Maulavis and village elders from remote areas of Surankote and Mandi tehsils will visit Delhi, Meerut and Agra during their 10-day tour, he said.
The spokesman said the group will visit places of historical, religious and educational importance such as Red Fort, Jama Masjid, Lotus Temple, Shanti Sthal, India Gate, Akshardham Mandir, Taj Mahal, Fatehpur Sikri, Indira Gandhi International Airport and Vasant Valley International School.
Speaking on the occasion, the Sector Rashtriya Rifles Commander said that the tour aims to provide the elders an opportunity to see the vast diaspora of culture, economic growth, and modernisation in the rest of the country which will widen their horizon and also have an impact on the socio- economic development of the state.
The excitement among the village elders was early visible as most of them were moving out of the region for the first time. Mohd Aslam Nawaz, one of the tour participants, expressed his gratitude to the Indian Army for giving him an opportunity of lifetime which would broaden his horizon.