Pakistani Truck Part Of 'Silk Road' Exhibit
A brightly painted, chromed commercial truck from Pakistan might not be what you would expect at the famed Smithsonian in Washington, D.C. But that’s exactly what visitors to the recent special exhibit “The Silk Road” got to see

A brightly painted, chromed commercial truck from Pakistan might not be what you would expect at the famed Smithsonian in Washington, D.C. But that’s exactly what visitors to the recent special exhibit “The Silk Road” got to see.
“The Silk Road” was this year’s Smithsonian Folklife Festival. The exhibit featured “the music, crafts, culinary and narrative traditions involved in the historical cultural interchange between the ‘East’ and the ‘West,’” from silk textiles to tea drinking, from stringed instruments to paper making, from noodle traditions to blue and white "chinaware” – and one very colorful truck.
Once roads in Pakistan and Afghanistan were full of brightly decorated wagons, ox carts, and other vehicles, along with the animals that pulled them, according to the exhibit website. Today, these decorative arts have been applied to elaborately painted trucks. In the past 50 years the decorative styles have increased dramatically, with each region of Pakistan developing its own distinctive motifs and decorations, such as landscapes, important monuments, and pithy sayings and poems.
Jamil-ud-Din and Haider Ali demonstrated the art of truck painting on the national mall during the 2002 Smithsonian Folklife Festival.
William Cassidy from Traffic World was there. He compared Pakistani trucks to rolling carousels, “brightly painted and loaded with ornaments made from steel, wood, mirrors and chrome.”
Although this truck was part of a museum exhibit, trucks like these are the workhorses on the roads of Pakistan. This one, Cassidy writes, features idyllic scenes depicting the Pakistani countryside, images of ethnic sword dancers, a hero killing a lion, women working in a village and a Sufi dancer. Inside the truck is a large picture of Barak, a benevolent angelic being, part horse, part human in form, known in the lore of the region stretching from Iran to India.
Cassidy also learned that getting the truck from Karachi, Pakistan, to Washington, D.C., was a logistical dilemma. Just getting the truck on board a ship meant driving the truck through Karachi, which likely would have meant being stopped by the police and having to pay hefty bribes to get through.
But the exhibit organizers found a way around the problem, Cassidy reports. It was the day before a big referendum on Musharraf’s presidency. They put posters of Musharraf all over the truck, played loud music and shouted campaign slogans from the cab – and made it through the city without being stopped.
For more on the Pakistani truck at The Silk Road festival, visit http://www.silkroadproject.org/smithsonian/index.html.
More Equipment

New Mack Granite Cab Puts Driver Comfort Front and Center
Mack’s next-generation vocational truck features a roomier cab, premium seating, advanced steering technology, and a driver-focused interior designed with direct input from professional operators.
Read More →
Mack Unveils Fan-Selected Patriotic NASCAR Pioneer Wraps
Racing fans picked the patriotic design now featured on three Mack Pioneer trucks hauling NASCAR equipment across the country during the 2026 season.
Read More →
Michelin Expands X Line Grip D Tire Line
Michelin is expanding its X Line Grip D drive tire lineup with a new pre-mold retread and additional sizes, building on what the company says is strong fleet adoption of the tire's traction, mileage, and fuel-efficiency benefits.
Read More →
Engine Technology Forum Launches SCR, DEF Resource Center Amid Emissions Debate
The Engine Technology Forum’s new online hub aims to provide fleets, policymakers, and equipment owners with fact-based information about selective catalytic reduction technology, diesel exhaust fluid and emissions compliance.
Read More →
Prime Inc. to Open $7.9M Flagship Used-Truck Dealership
A new driver-focused facility to sell Prime Inc's used trucks and trailers will be the first purpose-built location in the company's history.
Read More →
Lessons Learned About Alternative Fuels: Start Small, Stay Flexible
Practical advice on adopting alternative fuels and ZEVs from HDT's 2026 Top Green Fleets, from renewable diesel and natural gas to electric trucks.
Read More →
Kenworth Names Peter Ahrens General Manager
Leadership changes at Kenworth take effect July 1 as the OEM promotes two longtime Paccar executives to key management roles.
Read More →
Hino Adds Electric Class 6/7 Truck
Hino says the Le Series is an important step in the company's efforts to reduce environmental impact and support its customers’ sustainability goals.
Read More →
ACT Expo 2026: Highlights in Photos
The 2026 Advanced Clean Transportation Expo featured a broad range of commercial vehicle technologies, from EVs to autonomous trucks to the latest diesel and alternative-fuel engines.
Read More →
Hendrickson Debuts Electraax E-Axle for Medium-Duty Trucks
Developed with Driventic, Hendrickson's new integrated e-axle is designed to improve efficiency, reduce weight, and extend range in Class 6-7 EV applications.
Read More →
