LAHORE, March 20: The Tourism Development Corporation Punjab (TDCP) last week organized the first-ever adventurous desert jeep rally in the sandy terrain of Cholistan desert. The event proved to be a great success as it not only tested the skills of 76 drivers but also promoted the Cholistani culture and history. Set in the backdrop of Derawar Fort, the rally venue attracted a large number of visitors from surrounding areas as well as from other parts of the country. Besides the jeep rally, the visitors also enjoyed Cholistani music, fireworks and stay in a tent village, especially set up to greet them.
The enthusiastic drivers along with their navigators began the 266 kilometres jeep rally on the hot morning of March 16.
Participating in three different categories of jeeps, they said it was the first-ever opportunity that had attracted the youth in a healthy adventurous activity that would eventually channelize their potential.
After completing the rally track, the jeeps had started returning to the finishing point soon after the mid-day. However, some 20 jeeps reported to be stranded in the desert, while some developed mechanical faults.
The TDCP in collaboration with the army, rangers and Houbara Foundation Pakistan had to launch a rescue operation that continued till late at night.
Punjab Housing Minister Raza Gillani, who also participated in the rally, had to return after his vehicle overturned on the way.
Though the TDCP and its collaborators had plans to organize a day as well as 144 kilometres night rally, the unexpected delay in the return of vehicles and rescue of participants forced the organizers to cancel the night rally. The cancellation fell hard on many participants who remained present at the starting point from 7pm to 10pm.
The rescue operation could be completed next morning, when the last two participants were rescued safely. The army helicopter and a fokker had also monitored the jeep rally.
Talking to Dawn, participants said the desert jeep rally was a wonderful effort that led hundreds of people to visit Cholistan and know about its pristine deserts, life, culture and problems.
They, however, said the drivers faced certain problems on the rally track owing to improper demarcation, which became a major problem while the drivers were returning to the finishing point. Nevertheless, acknowledging the maiden effort, they hoped that the track and other facilities would improve with the passage of time.
Owners of jeeps also suggested that vehicle companies should also provide back up services to their branded vehicles at the rally track in future.
Though the rally went very well, the local Cholistani people remained at loss because the army management denied their entry to the rally venue. Some locals, however, gathered at a nearby hilltop to see vehicles leaving the starting point.
When the guests were listening to Cholistani music and enjoying fireworks at the tent village, a two-day fifth annual Rohi Rang Farid Mela began in the shadow of Derawar Fort. The mela presented local Seraiki singers, which was attended by a large number of people, who came on tractor-trolleys from nearby localities.
Reporters from print and electronic media also visited the Rohi mela and found it representing rich Cholistani music, cultural flavour and colour than that organized by the rally management.
Local singers, musicians, comedians and poets enthralled the audience at the mela that remained in session till morning.
Talking to Dawn, the locals hoped that the desert jeep rally would also help highlight their problems along with the beauty of the desert and the south Punjab.
They said the availability of potable water was still a great problem for them for they had to fetch water from wells located quite far off from their houses.
They said the Cholistan Development Authority had failed to lay potable water pipelines to provide water on the doorstep of people despite the passage of almost two years. They said the authority was executing the project with the financial assistance of the Asian Development Bank.
Earlier, speaking at the inaugural session of the jeep rally, former Vice-Chief of Army Staff General Muhammad Yousaf Khan (retired) said the adventure-oriented events would help youth to channelize their potential instead of taking part in antic activities on roads.
He said the rally would prove to be a harbinger of organization of more such events in future.
The rally, he said, would also help highlight the south Punjab and its deserts and lead to the promotion of domestic as well as international tourism in the area. Quoting President Pervez Musharraf, he said “We need to emphasize and promote our culture, as it was not properly promoted in the past”.
Later, at the prize distribution ceremony at Darbar Mahal, Federal Tourism Minister Dr Ghazi Jamal said the PTDC would organize an international desert jeep rally in Cholistan in September this year. He said the corporation was organizing inter-provincial ministerial meeting to plan and participate in international tourism fares to bring ideas home for the promotion of the tourism industry.
In addition to earning a multi-million dollars foreign exchange, he said the tourism promotion would help present a soft image of Pakistan at international level.
Against last year’s $135 million foreign exchange earning, he said the government had earned $186 million foreign exchange during nine months of this financial year.
Dr Jamal also promised that the PTDC would seriously work on the preservation of historical treasures in Bahawalpur.
Punjab Tourism Minister Mian Aslam Iqbal suggested that the under-preparation of federal tourism policy should promote and encourage private tour operators for better tourism promotion in all parts of the country.