March 05, 2008	Wednesday	Safar 26, 1429

BAHAWALPUR, March 4: Stage is set to hold the fourth Cholistan jeep rally from March 6 to March 9 at historic Derawar Fort in the deserts of Cholistan here.

About 70 to 80 participants from across the country were expected to join the four-day rally, which would cover a total distance of around 215 kilometres touching the ruins of three forts namely Nawankot, Khangarh and Bijnot for the first time.

During a press briefing at Circuit House here on Tuesday, EDO Finance Dr. Raheel Siddiqui, the focal person of the rally’s arrangements, said that for the first time the rally was being organised on international standards and after the registration of vehicles and navigators on March 6, a four-kilometre qualifying round, though not mandatory for all, had been introduced. The qualifying round that would be held in the bed of River Sutlej near the city would be open for general public and enthusiastic to have a glimpse of the participating premier vehicles, he added.

The EDO said the TDCP was organising the rally in collaboration with the district government and other allied agencies including Pakistan Army, Punjab Rangers, Cholistan Development Authority, Punjab Wildlife Department, Bahawalpur Police and Motor Sports Clubs of Punjab, Bahawalpur, Lahore, Sindh and Balochistan.

He said that none of the participants would be allowed to engage private guides. The participants would move to Derawar Fort on the evening of March 7 for overnight stay there. The flag-off ceremony would be held there in the morning while prize distribution function would be held the same night at Derawar Fort.

To a question, Dr. Raheel Siddiqui said that the fort would be colourfully lit on the night of March 8 and the other festivities would include an impressive camel race, folk dances, folk fair, wrestling competition (Dungle) and display of firework.

The event was likely to add to the attraction of the rally, as commoners would flock to the venue in a large number, the EDO added.

He said that the National Geographic Society’s team would cover this event for the first time, which would help introduce Cholistan’s culture at international level.