Jhang to host first-ever Desert Rally, Cultural Festival from Oct 16–18
The three-day historic activity includes 95km desert track, top racing events and cultural extravaganza
Jhang to host first-ever Desert Rally, Cultural Festival from Oct 16–18
The three-day historic activity includes 95km desert track, top racing events and cultural extravaganza
LAHORE: Jhang is set to make its mark on Pakistan’s adventure sports and tourism calendar as the district administration prepares to stage the first-ever Jhang Desert Rally 2026 alongside a three-day cultural festival from October 16 to 18 in the Thal Desert at Rehmat Abad, Tehsil 18-Hazari.
Announcing the event at a press conference held in Lahore, Deputy Commissioner Jhang Babar Sahib Din said the initiative, being organised under the vision of Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, aims to promote tourism, celebrate regional heritage and introduce Jhang’s distinctive attractions to a wider national and international audience.
The DC Jhang added that the centerpiece will be a 95-kilometre off-road racing track expected to attract around 100 drivers and riders from across Pakistan, including female jeep racers. Leading competitors, including renowned racer Nadir Magsi, are expected to participate, adding to the excitement surrounding the inaugural event.
Sahibzada Sultan Muhammad Ali, founder and leader of the prominent off-road racing outfit Team Sultan, confirmed that he would also compete in the rally. Inviting motorsport enthusiasts to attend, he described the event as an important opportunity to showcase racing talent and establish a new sporting tradition in Jhang.
He expressed confidence that leading national and international racers would help make the inaugural edition a success, adding that the rally could become one of the most memorable sporting events in the district’s history.
Mukarram Waheed Sheikh, the event’s main sponsor, urged sports enthusiasts and tourists to visit Jhang and experience its landscape, hospitality and cultural richness. He particularly highlighted tent pegging and horseback archery as attractions expected to draw considerable public interest.
Mukarram said that alongside the racing action, the cultural festival will offer a diverse programme of traditional sports, adventure activities and family entertainment. Tent pegging, horseback archery, kabaddi, volleyball and paragliding will feature among the planned attractions, providing visitors with opportunities to experience the region’s sporting traditions and recreational offerings.
Deputy Commissioner Babar Sahib Din said the administration would establish food courts and accommodation camps to facilitate visitors throughout the three-day programme. The arrangements are intended to provide a more comfortable experience for families, tourists, competitors and other participants.
He also highlighted Jhang’s geographical and historical significance, including its expansive Thal landscape, the meeting point of the Chenab and Jhelum rivers, and its rich cultural and civilisational heritage. According to the district administration, showcasing these assets through a major sporting and cultural event could help strengthen tourism and generate economic opportunities for local communities.
MPA Col. (R) Ghazanfar Abbas Qureshi, former MPA Faisal Hayat Jaboana, Ameer Abbas Sial and other participants at the press conference also expressed their support for initiatives promoting tourism, cultural preservation and healthy recreational activities. Organisers expect between 50,000 and 100,000 visitors, although actual attendance will depend on public response and event arrangements.
They added that with high-speed desert racing, traditional equestrian sports and regional festivities combined in one programme, the inaugural Jhang Desert Rally is intended to position the district as an emerging destination for adventure tourism while celebrating the heritage and hospitality of southern Punjab.
