A two-day ‘traveling bus painting project’ concluded in Islamabad on Saturday at the National Institute of Folk and Traditional Heritage (NIFTH). The project was aimed at promoting art and culture of Pakistan and Australia, with the participation of youth in the bus painting project. Talking to APP, Lok Virsa Executive Director Talha Ali said, “The designs on the buses draw parallels between the climate and landscape of Australia and Pakistan.” He said adding the design elements on the two sides of the bus painted as day and night scenes which represented the colloquialism of ‘Down Under’ and the different time zones and opposite seasons in Australia and Pakistan. Waves, water, and rain is a common theme connecting all designs, he shared adding that they represented importance of coastal lines in both countries and the similarities and parallels between the climate and water resources of the two nations. There were also trees and animals that were seen as iconic of Australia, in Pakistan like Kangaroo and Australian cows, he said. Talha said the use of cactus design was also symbolic, representing the resilience and endurance of the people of Australia and Pakistan. The plant was widely used in art as a symbol of resilience, that could stand up to the test of times and could thrive in harsh conditions, he informed. The design on the back represented Sydney Harbour bridge connecting the famous mountains of Pakistan and Australia (The Three Sisters and K-2). Use of stars represented the seven stars and the (crescent) star in Australian and Pakistani flags. The flag ribbons on the front design painted as with jacaranda and jasmine flowers on design 2. Jasmin is the national symbol of Pakistan and jacaranda is an icon of Australia. Other than similar weather conditions, raindrops in the maps symbolise good prospect in the future, which was the focus of the rear design of the buses.