The 11th Cholistan Jeep Rally (CJR) has received overwhelming response from motor-sports enthusiasts, despite serious administrative glitches. The 11th CJR was organised by Tourism Development Corporation of Punjab (TDCP) on February 13-14. This event is held by TDCP every year in the month of February with the view to promote the adventure opportunities and to highlight the cultural and historical heritage of the area. Now the Indus Motor Company (IMC) Limited for the first time participated in the event as 'co-sponsor'.
Ali Asghar Jamali Chief Operating Officer (CCO), IMC said that company was taking interest to promote motor sports in Pakistan hence the participation in the 11th CJR was significant. He said that IMC had sponsored one of the motorists Owais Khakwani, who took part in stock category.
Owais Khakwani said that it was an honour to represent IMC in 11th Cholistan rally. Pakistan has one of the best tracks in the world. Motor sports can open new doors of opportunities for Pakistan hence such events should be organised more often. It was exhilarating to see the enthusiasm of motorists, organisers and audience. Scores of people, who came across the country especially from Bahawalpur, Lahore, Karachi, Peshawar, Quetta, Kashmor, etc, has turned the CJR into festivity that generated livelihood opportunities for the inhabitants of this remote area.
However, this year, the one of the largest rally of the country was marred by administrative glitches. People complained that they were stranded in a traffic jam for hours on the road to Derawar Fort on the eve of February 13. They were of the view that arrangement for the 11th CJR could have been better, if the TDCP deputed sufficient number of traffic warden with proper entry and exit plans.
Muhammad Shehryar, who came from Bahalwalpur along with his three friends in Toyota Corolla Altis, said that they enjoyed a lot despite serious gridlock for hours. He said that they arrived at Cholistan a day before main rally to do camping in the desert.
Although the Cholistan is now known for CJR, cultural and historical heritage and shrine of four companions (Sahaba) of Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) are the main distinctions.
A large number of people came during event to visit the shrine located right outside Derawar Fort, which is a famed hallmark of Bahawalpur district and standing proudly in the midst of the Cholistan Desert.
The TDCP had also organised 'Cultural Musical Show' outside the Derawar Fort on the eve of main rally to entertain hundreds of motor-sports enthusiasts. Although TDCP made special arrangements for the event, the influx of four-wheelers has created serious traffic problems for the administration. Heavy contingent of army, rangers and police were placed at different spots for security but traffic police had badly failed to show their competence that led serious gridlocks for hours.
Following the frustration of serious traffic jams for hours, several motorists, who tried to find alternate routes to avoid traffic jams, hit their vehicles to the sand dunes that caused accidents and minor clashes among the drivers. The TDCP, which deployed rangers and army personnel at start and finish points last year, has this year given the said task to the private security agency to avoid creating problems for spectators. But the private security guards remained unable to stop the spectators, who thronged at both points that created serious problems for the racers.
The visitors, who availed TDCP's tour package for this event, expressed disenchantment over the facilities provided by the corporation. They said that TDCP despite tall claims on its website failed to provide basic facilities and proper accommodation for the event. They said that TDCP did not provide sufficient number of mattress, pillows and blankets during bitterly cold night.
On the other hand, the IMC, which was the co-sponsor of CJR, took its guests for first time to Cholistan. They had established a tent-city with proper arrangements including portable washrooms with uninterrupted water supply and others.
The racers Nadir Magsi, Ronnie Patel and other registered their protest against the bad management of the organisers that left the race an hour delay. Total 96 motorists took part in a final round of the 11th CJR, which was started an hour delay from scheduled time of 8am, due to over-crowded situation at start point. GM Ahmar Malik & GM Tanveer Jabar from TDCP and executives from Indus Motor Company (IMC) including CEO Pervaiz Ghias, COO Ali Asghar Jamali, senior General Manager, Marketing and Sales Division Raheel Ashgar, etc also witnessed the rally.
Sahibzada Sultan, who completed 220 km in 2 hours and 34 minutes, won prepared category A of CJR. However, all time champion Nadir Magsi remained unable to cross finish-line as his car caught technical fault at 201 km. He covered 201km in 2 hours 19 minutes.
Sahibzada Sultan was the winner of CJR prepared category A while Ronnie Patel and Nadeem Naeem grabbed second and third positions, respectively. Jeep Rally category B was won by Jaffer Magsi while Jam Kamal Khan and Zain Mehmood were declared first and second runner ups, respectively.
In Category C, Saeed Zaheer got first position, Raja Aslam was declared second while Dr Noorullah grabbed position on third stand. In Race Category D Mehbood Khan was declared winner while Muhammad Iqbal and Daud Abbasi remained on second and third positions, respectively.
Owais Khaswani, sponsored by the IMC, contested in stock category and did not grab any position. However, Qadir Nawaz Sanghi, Aamir Magsi, Abdur Rehman Khan & Muhammad Sajjad were announced winners in Stock categories A, B, C & D, respectively. In special category for female motorists, Jamila Asif defeated Tushna Patel, spouse of Ronnie Patel, who is the first runner up in prepared category A. Later, the prize distribution ceremony was held after the results announcement.
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