BAHAWALPUR: Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar has approved a water supplyschemecosting about Rs200 million for the Cholistan area, according toCommissioner Muhammad Zafar Iqbal.
He said thisat a prize distribution ceremony late on Sunday after the conclusion of 16thCholistan jeep rally in the desert.
The commissioner said the rally has projected the soft image of Pakistan and the cultural life of the desert on international forums.
Commending the efforts of the government officials, personnel of law-enforcing agencies and Pakistan Army and the participating drivers to make the rally a success, the commissioner said that as per the vision of Prime Minister Imran Khan, the desert tourism would be promoted and the scope of the rally would be widened.
He said the jeep rally may be originated from Sindh and concluded in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. He said that foreign tourists and racers would also be invited to the jeep rally. He also praised the folk singers for their performance at the rally.
In the jeep rally’s stock category, Asif Imam was declared winner followed by Babrak Baloch and Zahid Farid Kuliar. In the dirt bike rally, Mueen Khan stood first while Muhammad Zaigham and Ali Ahmed stood second and third. Eight bikers participated in the race and covered 27 km distance.
Dawn also learnt that a motorcyclist died in the race. Racers Dr Raheel Siddiqui and Dr Noorullah, who lost the route, told Dawn that they had rendered first aid to a seriously injured motorcyclist, but he died. Deceased’s identity has yet to be announced.
Some of the participants on the condition of anonymity raised objections to the standard of the rally track, arguing that during the two-day event, 20 vehicles broke down. Some experts said these vehicles broke down in all rallies and it was up to the drivers to have emergency kits along with them for their survival.
TDCP Managing Director Tanveer Jabbar could not be reached for his comment.
The vehicles of Zain Mehmood Chaudhry and Saood Majeed Chaudhry broke down on the first day of the rally while the vehicle of Tanveer Jhandhir, south Punjab additional secretary for livestock, was also burnt but he escaped unhurt.
Published in Dawn, February 16th, 2021
