TOBA TEK SINGH: The Jhang district administration is going to organise the first-ever ‘Jhang Desert Rally 2026’ and a three-day cultural festival to promote tourism, local culture and regional traditions.
Deputy Commissioner (DC) Babar Sahib Din, in a press release on Sunday, announced that the event will be held from Oct 16 to 18, in Rehmatabad, Athara Hazari tehsil in Thal desert.
As per the event’s schedule, a jeep race will be held on a 95-kilometre-long track, to be participated in by around 100 drivers and riders from across Pakistan, including female drivers.
The DC says the event’s objective is to showcase the district’s unique identity, desert landscape, culture, traditions, and tourist attractions at the national and international levels, promoting tourism in the region and strengthening the local economy.
Alongside the rally, a three-day cultural festival will feature a variety of recreational activities, including tent pegging, kabaddi, volleyball, paragliding etc.
He says that food courts and camps for accommodation of visitors would be established, ensuring better facilities for the participants.
He says the district has Thal region spanning approximately 6,000 square kilometres, the confluence of the rivers Chenab and Jhelum, and a rich historical and cultural heritage.
Published in Dawn, October 12th, 2026
