DERA ISMAIL KHAN: The four-day Derajaat Festival featuring a jeep rally, tent-pegging, horse race and other traditional games commenced here on Thursday.

On the occasion, Provincial Minister for Local Government and Rural Development Faisal Amin Gandapur and Federal Minister for Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan Ali Amin Khan Gandapur distributed tags among the participants of the off-road challenge jeep rally.

A 120-kilometre long track has been set up for the second national off-road jeep rally. The qualifying round will take place at race track CPEC Yarik Interchange on Friday. Prizes will be awarded to winners at the closing ceremony to be held at Rata Kalachi Sports Complex on Sunday.

Speaking on the occasion, Ali Amin Khan Gandapur said that more than 200 cars were participating in the jeep rally. He said that the Dera Jaat Festival was a mega event being held in the main sports stadium of the city.

Provincial Minister Faisal Amin Gandapur said on the occasion that the festival would promote peace, love and brotherhood among the local people. He said that it would help in promoting the culture and traditions of Dera Ismail Khan at national level.

He said that cultural dance, archery, horse and cattle dance, pet show, wrestling and bodybuilding competitions, gymnastics and other local sports would be part of the festival. He hoped that the festival would attract a large number of people as many famous artists would also perform in it.

Sahibzada Sultan, a famous racer, who also took part in the last off-road challenge, told journalists that the track was extremely beautiful and the palm trees added to the beauty of the track.

“The track is located at the foot of the mountains and that’s why racers from all over the country are attracted to this event,” he said.

Published in Dawn, March 4th, 2022