Jeeps are parked at the Football Stadium just before their departure from Lahore. PHOTO: ABID NAWAZ/EXPRESS
A meeting between the Tourism Development Corporation Punjab and Bahawalpur district administration was held on Friday to finalise arrangements for the three-day event that is expected to draw more than 300,000 tourists to the region.
TDCP General Manager (operations) Tanveer Jabbar told the media that besides the qualifying round of the rally, camel dance, wrestling and kabaddi competitions would also be held during the opening day. He said the ceremony would officially come to a close with a folk music concert and a fireworks display. “The main event will kick off at 8am on February 15 (Sunday),” he said. He said riders would compete on a 220-kilometres track. He added that police and emergency assistance officials would be deployed at 13 check posts established along the track to ensure a trouble-free race. The TDCP is expecting more than 300,000 tourists at the event this year. It has set up a camping ground and a food street for them.
Security plan
The Bahawalpur police on Friday finalised a security plan for the jeep rally. District Police Officer Sarfraz Ahmad Falki said Pakistan Army, Elite Force, Punjab Constabulary, Traffic Police, Special Branch and Bomb Disposal Squad officials would assist the district police in maintaining security arrangements. He said more than 800 personnel from these departments would perform security duties every day in three shifts. Under the plan, a car parking facility would be maintained for visitors at a distance of 600 meters from the track. DPO Falki said that barbed-wire fence would be put up along the track to keep unregistered vehicle away.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 14th, 2015.
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