LAHORE, Oct 19: Sindh Food Minister Nadir Magsi won the Lahore Cross Jeep Rally by winning its ‘A’ category after covering a nine-kilometer distance in the River Ravi bed in nine minutes and 48 seconds on Sunday.

Asad Khoro and Sad Khan grabbed the second and third spots by clocking 10 minutes and five seconds and 11 minutes and five seconds, respectively.

In all, 60 jeeps, which had been divided into four categories from A to D, took part in the competition.

Sadder Hussain Khan notched up victory in the ‘B’ category completing the journey in nine minutes and 46 seconds. Nauman Khan and Osama seized second and third positions.

Musa Nadeem took 10 minutes and 36 seconds to win the ‘C’ category while Khalid Magsi and Abbas Akbar finished second and third, respectively.

Roni Patel stood first in the ‘D’ category, covering the distance in 10 minutes and 50 seconds. Noor Nabi and Muhammad Azam secured second and third spots, respectively.

Winner of ‘A’ category Nadir Magsi said the track, which was difficult and challenging, would improve with the passage of time.

He said the event was to be held in the DHA area, but the authorities there did not give permission.

It was the longstanding demand of the participants to the Punjab government to hold the event in Lahore because the location in the Ravi bed was ideal, he said.

While giving away prizes, Punjab Tourism Minister Chaudhry Abdul Ghafoor said the jeep rally had given a positive response.

He said his department would also invite foreign competitors in future to make the event more competitive.

A good holiday crowd had made the event, held in Lahore for the first time, more colourful. Earlier, such events were held in the desert area of Cholistan. The Punjab Tourism Department organised the event.