SWABI: The 12th Indus Water Cross Jeep Race, held at the archaeological site Hund on Sunday, attracted a large crowd who enjoyed the contest on a sunny day.

The race was organised by the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Culture and Tourism Authority (KPCTA) in collaboration with the Frontier 4×4 Club and the Land Rover Club. It was a unique race in every aspect, held at the point where Alexander the Great crossed the River Indus in the spring of 326 BC.

A total of 80 drivers and an equal number of vehicles arrived to participate in the race. Two jeeps got trapped in the middle of the river during the race and were declared out of the contest. The 4×4 jeeps came from various cities, including Islamabad, Lahore, Abbottabad, and Peshawar.

According to Mohammad Saad, a tourism department official, the race was held on a 2.5-kilometer track set in the rocky terrain at the edge of the River Indus for jeeps.A driver from Lahore named Sardar Hassan Sadiq claimed that there were no other water crossings or attractive spots in the district. He had always enjoyed his visits here and had won one of the races in his past five trips.

Urooj Janjua, who came from Islamabad, told Dawn that she had enjoyed the race for the first time. “It seems very good that people from different regions are not only participating in this race but also engaging in cultural exchange. The environment is unique, with the absolutely clean flow of the River Indus, lush green fields, and the tricky track, all of which look very attractive,” she said.

The category A race was won by Dr Nadeem Naeem, along with a Rs 30,000 cash prize, Irshadullah came second, and Babar Khan took third place. In category B, Mansoor secured first position, Rizwan Mashadi stood second, and Wali Mohammad took third. In category C, the winner was Imran Haider.

KPCTA Director General Tashfeen Haider and the assistant commissioner tehsil Chota Lahor gave away trophies and prizes to the winners.

Published in Dawn, December 2nd, 2024