Work on the chairlift project at Fort Munro is expected to begin next month. The project would be completed at an estimated cost of Rs350 million.
Addressing a press conference on Thursday, Habibur Rahman Gilani, the Tourism Development Corporation of Punjab (TDCP) managing director, said that the Punjab government had earlier proposed a more ambitious project, including a restaurant and a playground. However, he said, later private sector industry were invited to invest in the other facilities. It was, however, installing the 1.5-kilometre long chairlift itself. A cable car would also be provided along the route, he said.
The press conference was held a day before the three-day 8th Cholistan Jeep Rally scheduled to begin on Friday (today) near the Derawar Fort in Bahawalpur.
The MD said that the jeep rally was the biggest car sports event in Pakistan.
He said the event had attracted attention of adventurers from across the world. This year, he said, enthusiasts from seven countries, including Egypt, Oman, Turkey and UAE had sought information about the Cholistan rally.
“We have been advertising this event for six months to attract more foreign drivers.”
He said a food court, a handicrafts bazaar and a tent city would be set up during the jeep rally festival. There would also be music shows.
The MD also said that the TDCP would soon launch another desert jeep rally in Noorpur Thal area and a motorbike race competition near Kasur.
He said a Cholistan Desert Safari programme would also be initiated soon to promote historical and scenic sites in the desert.
The Cholistan desert is home to nine forts- Derawar, Islamgarh, Mirgarh, Jamgarh, Maujgarh, Khangarh, Khairgarh, Nawankot and Bijnot.
The MD said that TDCP had received proposals for rehabilitation of Indus Queen, a 145-year-old ship that used to transport pilgrims from Chachraan Sharif to Kot Mithan. He said the project could likely begin in a few months.
He told the reporters that the TDCP had purchased a 40-kanal site to build a resort in Kot Mithan. The plan, he said, was ready and construction would begin soon.
He said that Rs10 million would be spent on the Cholistan Desert Jeep Rally, half of it provided by the provincial government.
He regretted that big private sector had not shown much interest in the local cultural events.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 15th, 2013.