A 4×4 vehicle moves across the Indus River during the 14th Cross River Cross Jeep Race in Hund, Swabi. Photo: Express
SUABIO:
The 14th Indus Water Cross Jeep Race was held on Sunday at the picturesque site of Hund along the Indus River in Swabi district, attracting huge crowds and showcasing high-octane motorsports action.
The event was jointly organized by the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Culture and Tourism Authority (KPCTA) and the Frontier 4×4 Club, as part of ongoing efforts to promote adventure tourism in the province.
Pilots from different parts of the country participated in the competition, demonstrating exceptional driving skills on hard and rugged terrain specially designed for the race. More than 50 racers participated, competing on a challenging three-kilometer track that tested both the vehicle’s performance and the driver’s endurance.
KPCTA Director General Muhammad Usman Mehsud was the chief guest on the occasion. He was accompanied by KPCTA Director Administration Shehryar Mahmood, Director Tourism Muhammad Ali Syed, Deputy Commissioner Saddam Bajwa and other officials and prominent guests.
The Indus Water Cross Jeep Race featured competitions in three different categories. In the first category (0-6000cc), Baryal Khan bagged the first position, followed by Baseer Khan in second place and Imran in third place. In the second category (0 to 3,000 cc), Abi took first position, while Raza Jan came second and Raza SS finished third. In the female drivers category, Marjan Yousafzai took first place and earned applause for her confident performance.
At the end of the event, DG KPCTA Muhammad Usman Mehsud distributed prizes among the winning drivers. Addressing the ceremony, he said the provincial government was making serious and sustained efforts to promote tourism across the province by launching and supporting various tourism-related projects.
He announced that Hund Park in Swabi would soon be developed under a public-private partnership model, adding that a picnic area would also be established near the local dam to provide better recreational facilities to visitors.
The successful organization of the jeep race not only highlighted the region’s potential for adventure sports but also reinforced Hund’s growing status as a tourist destination in KP.
