BAHAWALPUR: The City Parade, a new event in connection with the 18th Cholistan Jeep Rally, was held here on Wednesday.

The parade, held under the administration, was led by Divisional Commissioner Raja Jahangir Anwar and IUB Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Athar Mahboob and largely participated by heads and staff of government departments in addition to office-bearers of the Bahawalpur Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI).

Hundreds of members of the civil society, NGOs, heavy bike riders, horse-riders and cyclists attended the event.

Police and school bands performed at the city parade.

At the conclusion, the commissioner gave away prizes and shields to best performers.

Earlier, local population greeted the participating jeep drivers and owners when they passed through city roads on their way to Cholistan jeep rally camp to get themselves registered.

After drivers’ registration at Derawar, draws for the qualifying round were held. The qualifying round involving participating drivers is schedule for Thursday (today) at Dilwash Stadium, Derawar Fort.

The Derawar Fort and adjacent areas have been electrified and a road leading to fort from Bahawalpur and Yazman has been constructed.

The Tourism Development Corporation of Punjab (TDCP) has also constructed its tourist resort to promote tourism in the area and provide boarding and lodging facilities to the tourists.

Meanwhile, the Bank of Punjab has installed an ATM near the Derawar Fort for the desert rally days.

Published in Dawn, February 9th, 2023