Registration for Cholistan Desert Jeep Rally opens

[A.Rafay]

BAHAWALPUR:
Registration for participation in the 8th Cholistan Desert Jeep Rally has started. The rally will be held in Bahawalpur between February 15 and February 17.

This was announced by Habibur Rehman Gillani, the Punjab Tourism Development Corporation (TDCP) managing director at a press conference on Thursday.

President of the 4×4 Club Mehmood Majeed, General Manager (operations) Muhammad Tanveer Jabbar and TDCP Manager Shahid Mehmood were also present.

Drivers from Italy, Turkey and Oman will participate in the 2013 rally. Gillani said the corporation had tried to meet international standards this year. Moreover, he said, in view of the foreign participants and the large number of spectators, a special security plan had been devised.

The vehicles will arrive at the scene on the night before the 15th.

Jeeps will run on a 230-kilometre track. The event will also include cultural programmes such as musical nights.

Check posts are being set up at every 10 kilometres on the route of desert rally. Security and Recue 1122 personnel will be deployed at these check posts.

The Cholistan jeep rally was first held in 2005. Since then, this part of the desert is brought to life every February by a three-day jeep rally, followed by music concerts and exhibition of fireworks. Thousands of people come to watch the adventure.

Registration for Cholistan Desert Jeep Rally opens – The Express Tribune