DERA ISMAIL KHAN: A large number of tourists and local people thronged Paniala, commonly referred to as Damaan, to watch the first Derajat off-road jeep rally and motorcycle race here on Saturday.

The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Culture and Tourism Authority (KPCTA), Frontier 4x4 Club and Dera Ismail Khan district administration have jointly organised the three-day event in a bid to introduce the area to the domestic and foreign tourists and visitors.

On the second day of the off-road jeep rally on Saturday, expert riders from across the country, including Jaffar Magsi, Nadir Magsi, Sahibzada Sultan, Babar Khan, Salma Khan Marwat, Maheem Sheraz, Laila Akhunzada, Irshad Kakakhel, Zain Mahmood and others performed well during the 120-kilometre race on the track from Paniala to Gloti.

Around 29 drivers participated in the stock category and 22 racers in the professional category.

Besides, riders from women’s category and motorcycle racers also took part in the competitions and received thunderous applause from the spectators.

The track along one of the most stunning landscapes for Derajat off-road challenge was specifically prepared for the racers.

Earlier, qualifying rounds were held over a two kilometres track with dangerous turns.

Sahibzada Sultan clinched first position after he covered the track in 1:53 minutes, Zain Mahmood second with 1:54 minutes and Asif Fazal Chaudhry ranked third with 1:55 minutes followed by Jaffar Magsi and Nadir Magsi with the timing of 1:56 minutes and 1:57 minutes, respectively.

In stock category, Sahibzada Fakhar stood first with 1:55 minutes, Taimur Khwaja second with 1:56 minutes and Rashid Goraya grabbed third position who covered the track in 1:58 minutes.

CONVENTION: Under the PM’s Agriculture Emergency Programme, the Pakistan Agricultural Research Council in collaboration with the Agriculture Research Centre for Arid Areas, Dera, organised a convention for education and training of wheat farmers here on Saturday.

Speaking at the function, federal minister Ali Amin Gandapur said that development of agriculture sector depended on use of modern technology.

He said that due to decline of agriculture an emergency had been declared in this sector.

Published in Dawn, March 28th, 2021