K. Jahangir
LAHORE: The District Administration Jhang is organising the first-ever Jhang Desert Rally 2026 and a three-day Cultural Festival under the vision of Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz Sharif to promote tourism, preserve local culture, and highlight regional traditions.
Deputy Commissioner Jhang Babar Sahib Din, said this during a press conference held in Lahore, where he announced that the three-day event will be held on October 16, 17, and 18, 2026, at the Thal Desert in Rehmat Abad, Tehsil 18-Hazari, Jhang. A jeep race will be conducted on a 95-kilometre-long track, featuring around 100 top drivers and riders from across Pakistan, including female jeep drivers.
Member of the Provincial Assembly Col. (R) Ghazanfar Abbas Qureshi, former MPA Faisal Hayat Jaboana, Ameer Abbas Sial, Mukarram Waheed Sheikh, and Sahibzada Sultan Muhammad Ali were also present at the press conference.
Deputy Commissioner Babar Sahib Din said that the primary objective of organising the Jhang Desert Rally is to showcase the district’s unique identity, desert landscape, culture, traditions, and tourist attractions at national and international levels. He added that the event would promote tourism in the region and contribute to strengthening the local economy.
He added that the 95-kilometre-long track in the vast Thal Desert would offer jeep racing enthusiasts and adventure seekers a unique and thrilling experience. Alongside the rally, the three-day Cultural Festival will feature a variety of cultural and recreational activities, including tent pegging, kabaddi, volleyball, paragliding, and other colourful attractions.
The Deputy Commissioner further informed that food courts and accommodation camps would be established to facilitate visitors and tourists attending the festival, ensuring better facilities and an enjoyable experience for all participants. He highlighted that District Jhang possesses a distinctive identity due to its vast desert landscape, the Thal region spanning approximately 6,000 square kilometres, the confluence of the Chenab and Jhelum rivers, and its rich historical, cultural, and civilizational heritage.
The DC Jhang said the Jhang Desert Rally would serve as an important initiative to showcase these natural and cultural assets and establish the district as a prominent tourist destination.
Sahibzada Sultan Muhammad Ali, who is founder and leader of Pakistan’s well-known off-road racing team, Team Sultan, has said that he himself is taking part in this prestigious event and I have invited all of my friends and well wishes to come join us and enjoy this recreational and adventurous activity, where all the top national and international racers would exhibit their prowess and try to make this first-ever Jhang Desert Rally a huge success. “Top racers including Nadir Magsi is participating in this event. This is going to be one of the best sports event in Jhang’s history and we will try to make it a huge success.”
Mukarram Waheed Sheikh, who is main sponsor of the event, said: “We invite all the sports lovers to come and see one of the biggest sports festival in Jhang. The purpose of sponsoring this first-ever event is to show the world that how beautiful Jhang district is and see our hospitality and beauty of Jhang. We will provide the best sports festival activities here and the worth seeing will be tent-pegging and horseback archery.”
Other speakers on the occasion including, MPA Col (R) Ghazanfar Abbas Qureshi, former MPA Faisal Hayat Jaboana, Ameer Abbas Sial and others also expressed their commitment to continuing efforts to promote tourism, preserve local culture, and organise positive recreational activities across District Jhang. They said that all these activities would be conducted in trend-setting manner and around 50,000 to 100,000 people are expected to see this huge event, which will be enjoyed and witnessed by sports enthusiasts from across the country.
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