BAHAWALPUR: The Bahawalpur 4x4 club`s Zain Mahmood won the qualifying round of the 18th Cholistan Desert Rally on Thursday. The stage is now set for the holding of the flag off ceremony on Friday (today).

According to details, communicated by Dr Raheel Siddiqui, the former bureaucrat and principal secretary to chief minister, Zain covered the distance in one minute seven seconds and twenty-two mini seconds (1.7.22) while Nadir Magsi and Faisal Shehzad covered the distance in one minute seven seconds eighty-three mini seconds (1.7.83) and one minute nine seconds three mini seconds (1.9.3), respectively. They were placedin second and third positions.

In the women`s category, Rabab Hayat was declared first as she covered the distance in one minute, thirty-one seconds and ninety-five mini seconds (1.31.95).

According to Dr Siddiqui, two vehicles broke down during thequalifying round. He told Dawn by cell phone that the vehicles of Dr Noorullah (in C category) and Nauman Sarenjam (in prepared category B) overturned but both remained unhurt.

According to the organisers, over150 drivers andnavigators, including nine women, are par-ticipating in the rally. The rally would continue with intervals till Sunday, the concluding day when the distribution of prizes would be done late at night.

Meanwhile, on Thursday, most of the crowd and visitors left for Cholistan to witness the qualifying round and the jeep rally in its full swing, the divisional and district administrations after its successful successive events in the city for the previous several days. They organised two more programmes of the chess championship and puppet festivals. The chess championship was largely participated by the youth and male and female students and boys under 16. At the end, Commissioner Raja Jahangir Anwar gave away prizes.

In the puppet festival, a large number of children, teachersand artistes participated while members of Pakistan Puppet Group, Disneyland Puppet Group, Bahawalpur Puppet Theatre and Ideal Puppet Group performed at the arts council stage. The commissioner`s wife, Shazia Irum, distributed prizes.

In her winding-up speech, the main organiser of these events city Assistant Commissioner Dr Anum Fatimah hailed the turnout of the people, including children and women in large numbers at the events in which special children especially participated.

Jhoomar dance was also performed for recreation and amusement of the general public.

A tent village has cropped up in the desert as the visitors and tourists reached the venue in a large number. The administration has also set up a food street in the desert.