PESHAWAR - Sajjad Hussain Qureshi of Lahore clinched the overall first position as he covered the nine-kilometer track in just 12.32 minutes in the 7th Indus Water Cross Jeep Race 2017 at Swabi Point on Sunday.

There were four categories of racers in which five women drivers also took part. In the women category, Rida Naveed grabbed the first position by covering the track in 19.12 minutes, while Asma Saddique stood second after finishing the track in 21.02 minutes. In Category A, Nowsherwan stood first, Baqir second and Khalid third. In Category B, besides Sajjad who claimed first, Usman Nadeem earned second position and Tariq Khan third.

Hassan Channa got the first position in Category C, Safdar of Team Sultan stood second and Raja Nadeem grabbed third. In mountain bike riders, Ibrahim Khan secured first position, Zaigham Khan was second and Babar Khan got the third position.

A large number of spectators, enthusiast drivers and mountain bike riders thronged the Indus River to watch and participate in the 7th Indus Water Cross Jeep Race 2017 at Swabi Point on Sunday. Organised by the Tourism Corporation Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (TCKP) and the Frontier 4x4 Club, the spectators included Frontier 4x4 Club president Babar Khan, and a large number of game lovers, who enjoyed the game of power and force of four-wheelers and the valiant drivers crossing the mighty Indus River.

The show was eye-catching but it looked a scaring feat too as the drivers, both men and women, pulled over their jeeps to the banks of Indus River and started racing on the nine kilometers tough and rough track of stones in the gushing water.

TCKP Managing Director Mushtaq Ahmed Khan and Swabi Deputy Commissioner Mutasim Billah Khan were the chief guests and inaugurated the event. The chief guests later away shields and prizes to the position holders of the race.

Speaking on the occasion, Mushtaq said TCKP was making strenuous efforts to promote tourism in the province. He said women racers from Peshawar, Islamabad and Lahore participated in the event, which would give a positive message to the world about the people and country.  He said The tourism potential would be explored and revived along the Indus River to attract more tourists to the scenic spots of the province. The spectators highly appreciated the adventurous activity and urged the authorities concerned to arrange such more events in the district.