MUZAFFARGARH: Asif Fazal Chaudhry won the final round of 9th Thal Jeep Rally as he covered the distance in 18.3 minutes; Faisal Shadikhel remained second with 18.12 minutes while Sahibzada Mohammed Ali Sultan got third position with 18.16 minutes. Renowned racer Nadir Magsi’s vehicle skidded off the track and he got fourth position.

Due to the heavy smog, the Tourism Development Corporation of Pakistan (TDCP) administration reduced the distance and set the midpoint as the finish line.

Earlier, the starting and finishing point was Head Muhammadwala but now the total distance was reduced to 30km.

The rally was delayed due to smog and Kot Addu Deputy Commissioner Syed Manwar Abbas Bukhari started the race when the smog subsided.

Thirty-four racers participated in the event including three women.

Asif Fazal Chaudhry became the champion for the second time as he had previously won the jeep rally in 2019. Speaking to the media, Fazal said the track was good but challenging as smog had hit the event badly.

Dina Patel who got the first prize in the prepared category for females said the rally was also a kind of recreational activity for the people to enjoy every year.

Distance of final round was reduced due to smog

International racer Asif Ali who was injured the previous day as his car overturned. He repaired the car and participated in the rally. He told the media that had come to participate in the rally from the UK for the first time.

A large number of people from all provinces came to see this mega event participated by famous international drivers.

The award ceremony was held at the Faisal Stadium where the Dera Ghazi Khan commissioner and tourism department officials distributed prizes among the winners.

Muzaffargarh Deputy Commissioner Quratul Ain said it was big challenge for her to manage the rally but the tourism department and district administrations of Kot Addu and Layyah were a great help in preparing routes of 195km track.

Kot Addu DC Syed Munawar Abbas Bukhari said it was a great honour for the district where such kind of international competition was held. He said the track for the rally was started from Head Muhammadwala in Kot Addu district and it touched the boundary of district Layyah to finish at its starting point.

District Police Officer Syed Hasnain Haider said check posts were set up and more than 800 police personnel were deputed there for security. Layyah DC Ameera Baidar and DPO Ali Waseem also visited the track.

Jhoomer dance and folk singing were also held at Layyah at Chobara tehsil.

On the other side, there were some issues at the venue as the district administration did not set up any food stalls though dance, Kabaddi, javelin and other sport competitions were also held during Thal Cultural Fair.

Published in Dawn, November 11th, 2024