PESHAWAR -  A convoy of beautifully-decorated jeeps on Saturday departed to participate in the “Jeep Rally” in Cholistan Desert of the Punjab.

Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Assembly Deputy Speaker Mehr Taj Roghani departed the participants of the jeep rally at a ceremony, held in connection with the departure of jeeps for the Cholistan.

According to details, the TCKP is sponsoring the team of 4x4 jeeps of the province in the race to be held from February 15-18.

The convoy of 4x4 jeeps first gathered at the Peshawar Museum at morning and then departed for Punjab in a rally to test the skills of driving in Cholistan jeeps race by the drivers.

The 4x4 jeeps were tastefully decorated highlighting the culture and tourism sights and adventure sports of the province.

Speaking on the occasion, Mehr Taj Roghani said that progress and prosperity were not possible without the restoration of peace and tranquillity in the country.

She said that the departure of jeeps for Punjab to take part in the race was a good sign and it would send a positive message to the outer world that peace had been restored and tourism and sports activities were being organised in every nook and corner of the province.

She lauded the efforts of the Tourism Department for attracting international and domestic tourists to the scenic sights of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.

She said that installation of camping pods at the tourist attractions and identification and development of scenic sites were a really great job to boost tourism and facilitate tourists, which should be appreciated.

“Our Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa is no more a ‘no go area’ as tourists are coming in droves to enjoy holidays here owing to the robust and tangible steps taken by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf-led provincial government,” the deputy speaker said.

Deputy Secretary Babar Khan said they decided to participate in the Cholistan jeep rally with an aim to highlight and promote tourism, culture and adventure sports activities in KP.

He said this was the first time in the history of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa to take part in the Cholistan jeep rally. He hoped that the KP team would perform well and bring laurels for the province.

Managing Director Mushtaq Ahmed Khan said that the participation of KP jeeps in Cholistan rally was a right step in the right direction to usher in a new era of boosting tourism and adventure sports activities in the province.

Deputy Secretary Sports, Tourism, Culture, Archaeology, Museums and Youth Affairs Babar Khan, Tourism Corporation Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (TCKP) Managing Director Mushtaq Ahmed Khan, General Manager Tourist Information Centres (TICs) Muhammad Ali Syed, Frontier 4x4 Club President Babar Khan, jeep racers Irshadul Haq, Shakil Barqi and others were also present on the occasion.