THE CAMEL CART GUY AND THE PRESIDENT

I don't know if many  people know about the unusual friendship of a poor camel cart driver from Karachi,Pakistan and the President of United States Lyndon B Johnson. It all started in the early 1960s when during an official visit to Pakistan then Vice President Lyndon Johnson saw a man standing on the street in Karachi with his camel , waving at the vice-presidential motorcade . Vice President Johnson asked the Pakistani government officials to introduce him to the " camel guy". The camel cart driver whose name was Bashir Sarban was extremely excited to shake hands with the Vice President . He introduced himself in what little English he knew. Mr Johnson invited him to his ranch in Texas and to the White House.
Few months later as the guest of United States government Bashir Sarban flew to Washington DC . He was beaming with happiness at the airport. He was recieved as the official guest of US government and Mr Johnson himself was present at the airport to recieve him. He was given a tour of the White House, Capitol Hill and other monuments. Later he went to the Johnson Ranch in Texas where he enjoyed a ride in the Vice President Johnson" s truck . He also enjoyed a barbecue lunch.He visited and gave a short speech at a local school in Wasington through an interpreter,along with Mrs Johnson and her daughter .Mr Sarban was presented a Ford Truck by the Ford Motor Company as a gift.
On the day of his return to Pakistan Mr Sarban recieved a telegram from the US government that they have arranged for him to visit Saudi Arabia to perform " Umrah" in the Holy city of Mecca. " Allah o Akbar" .....God is great we're the words of the poor camel cart driver who had tears in his eyes and who was amazed at the hospitality of the US government and people.

Both President Johnson and Mr Sarban are not alive any more but to this day people in Pakistan and in Washington DC talk about this unique friendship !