BAHAWALPUR: The 15th edition of the Cholistan jeep rally kicked off in style at the historic Derawar Fort about 70 kilometres from here.

The opening day of the desert jeep rally attracted a large number of people from all parts of Cholistan and rural and urban areas nearby. The qualifying round of the participating owners, drivers and their navigators was held in the area that wore a beautiful look.

According to a report received by Dawn from one of the main participants, Dr Raheel Ahmed Siddiqui, the qualifying round of the prepared and stock categories was won by last year’s winner Nadir Magsi (Sindh) and Zafar Khan Magsi. Their time was recorded as 1 min and 48.30 seconds and 1 min and 58.22 seconds.

In the prepared category’s qualifying round, Asif Fazal Chaudhry, Sahibzada Sultan and Zain Mehmood (of four by four racing club) were placed in second, third and fourth positions respectively. In the vehicles’ stock category qualifying round, Amer Magsi, Zarain Magsi and Rashid Ali were adjudged second, third and fourth respectively.

Earlier, the technical inspection of the vehicles, their registration process and the medical tests of the drivers and navigators were completed. It is learnt that driver Rashid Ali from Saudi Arabia and Ms Tushna Patel and Ms Jamila Asif also reached the Derawar Fort to participate in the jeep rally. The women’s category jeep race is expected to be held on Feb 15.

The flag-off ceremony of the first round of the jeep rally of pre-paid category vehicles would be held on Friday morning while on Feb 15, the rally of the stock category drivers would be held and an impressive cultural night programme would be arranged the same night.

More than 20 registered drivers could not participate in the event due to dusk.

The fort building and the adjacent historic mosque constructed by the late Nawab of Bahawalpur have been tastefully illuminated to mark the annual feature of the jeep rally.

On the initiative of Divisional Commissioner Asif Iqbal Chaudhry, the Bahawalpur Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) organised a trade fair at the rally venue where the spectators, visitors and tourists took keen interest in the stalls of local handicraft and hand-made articles. The trade fair was inaugurated by the commissioner, Regional Police Officer Muhammad Fayyaz Dev and BCCI president Javed Iqbal Chaudhry.

Besides, the students of the Islamia University of Bahawalpur (IUB) set up their stalls.

Published in Dawn, February 14th, 2020