The Punjab government has decided to hold the 10th Cholistan Jeep Rally from February 13 to 15 in which more than three hundred thousand persons will participate. The national rally of four wheel jeeps will be over a distance of 225-kilometre from Fort Derawar to inner parts of Cholistan.
The history of Cholistan desert spreads over centuries but Cholistan Jeep Rally has given real identity to this historical heritage, said Punjab Minister for Education and Tourism Rana Mashhood Ahmed Khan while addressing a special function held on the occasion of completion of first decade of the Pakistan’s biggest motor sports event Cholistan Jeep Rally on Saturday.
An agreement was signed between Punjab Tourism Development Corporation Managing Director Aamir Malik and Mountain Dew Marketing Head Usman Shahid for the sponsorship of Cholistan Jeep Rally. Tourism Minister Rana Mashhood Ahmed Khan, authorities concerned and former Punjab Governor Lieutenant General Khalid Maqbool especially participated in the ceremony. TDCP Board of Governor Vice Chairman Imran Ali Goraya, Secretary Tourism Muhammad Khan Khitchi, Walled City Project Chief Executive Kamran Lashari, Chief Minister’s Inspection Team chairman Irfan Ali, Cholistan Taskforce chairman Saood Majeed, Royal Palm Country Club Chief Executive Sheikh Muhammad Ramzan, champion drivers Ronny, Patel, Tushna Patel, Mehmood Majeed, Nawabzada Aamir Magsi, Sardar Hassan Sadiq, Muhammad Ashraf, representative of Obara Foundation Colonel (r) Kamal Din Rana apprised the people of salient features of Cholistan Jeep Rally and termed it an important source for creating awareness all over the world about socio-economic development of the area and rich desert civilisation.
Mashhood said that the Punjab government has improved road network from Bahawalpur to ancient Fort Derawar. He said that it was government’s responsibility to maintain this desert of historical importance in its real condition and international institutions will be contacted to take care of it. He said that present government accords top priority to promotion of tourism.
Projects of installation of cable car at Soon Valley of district Khushab and Fort Munro at Dera Ghazi Khan are in the final stages of completion while tourist bus service will be started within next two months to facilitate the tourists in Lahore, the largest cultural hub of the country.
