SKARDU: All is set for `Sarfa Ranga` cold desert jeep rally being held on coming Sunday (Aug 20) at one of the highest deserts of the world. About 200 drivers from abroad, Pakistan and the locals will participate in the event.

Officials told Dawn on Sunday the Sarfa Ranga was one of the highest cold deserts in the world located in Shigar district some 20 kilometres off Skardu.

The desert is surrounded by snowcapped mountains, a beautiful lake named Jharba Tso, River Indus and Sarfa Ranga village.

Commissioner Baltistan region Asim Ayub told mediapersons that the GilgitBaltistan government was playing leading role in holding the event with a vision to initiate a sporting event of national scale in GB as part of an extended tourism season and to diversify tourism activities on financially and institutionally sustainable basis.

He said the cold desert jeep rally would start from Bab-i-Shigar at 8am and end at the same spot at 3pm, covering a distance of 30 kilometres.

Mr Ayub said that motorcyclists were also participating in the race. He added that a pre-qualification race would be held on Aug 19 from 10am to 3pm.

He said interested local drivers could register for the race by Tuesday.-Correspondent