BAHAWALPUR, March 7: The inaugural ceremony of a four-day TDCP’s Cholistan jeep rally was held with the holding of draws for 86 participants at Noor Mahal late on Thursday night.

For the first time two foreigners – Martinez Ligero, an official of Spanish embassy in Islamabad, and Jell Mattelaer of Belgiam -- were also participating in the desert jeep rally.

Speaking on the occasion, TDCP managing director Irfan Ali said that the rally would help promote the local culture and tourism in the vast desert.

EDO (finance) Dr Raheel Siddiqui, the focal person of the rally, said the desert jeep rally had been introduced four years back. He said all arrangements had been made to facilitate the participants. Meanwhile, the qualifying round was held on a four kilometer route in the dried bed of the river Sutlej here on Friday.

A large number of people, including women and children, watched the event. The participants will move to Derawar Fort on Saturday (today) for an overnight camping. They will join the rally on Sunday. A colourful programme, including camel race, camel dance, wrestling, fireworks and a folk mela will be arranged for participants of Saturday night.

Organizers have constituted a five-member jury which comprises TDCP managing director Irfan Ali, MD, Cholistan Development Authority managing directo Brig Ahsan Nawaz Tiwana (retired), Sahibzada Umar Daud Abbasi, Major Muhammad Tahir (retired) and Muhammad Aslam.