Pakistan accelerates jeep rally to boost tourism

In a cloud of dust and diesel fumes, a souped-up 4x4 roars through the silence of Pakistan's Cholistan desert, cheered on by tens of thousands of spectators. Nearly 90 drivers were drawn to throw their vehicles around the dry, rocky 214-kilometre track in a desolate, baking hot corner of Punjab province for this year's Cholistan Jeep Rally. The event, which began in 2005, has grown in popularity despite the remote location, about 400 kilometres (250 miles) southwest of Lahore, the provincial capital, with fans coming from across Pakistan to see the action. Officials from the Tourism Development Corporation of Punjab (TDCP), which organises the festival, say that the rally, which took place last month, is becoming more popular every year, according to AFP.