PESHAWAR, March 01 (APP): Governor Owais Ahmad Ghani Monday flagged off the 15th edition of the International Tour de Pakistan Cycle Race from PC Hotel here at 9.00 a.m with 63 cyclists including cyclists from Afghanistan vie for top honor.
In his speech Governor Owais Ahmad Ghani appreciated the organizers of the Pakistan Cycling Federation and NWFP Cycling Association for opening the Race, which is the biggest race of Asia.
“It would give a massage of peace to the world,” the Governor said. He also appreciated the people of NWFP for facing tough situation. “The people of NWFP are very brave and courageous by facing tough challenges due to militancy but now the situation is heading quickly towards normalcy,” he added. “We have controlled the situation with the people support and support of the security forces. We have also succeeded in restoring peace in the province,” the Governor remarked.
“Now the situation is under control, the routine life coming towards complete normalcy,” he added. While appreciating the Afghanistan team, the Governor said that their participation would give massage of peace and brotherhood to the world.
NWFP Minister for Sports Syed Aqil Shah thanked the Governor for gracing the occasion. He said his presence have encouraged both the cyclists and the organizers. Aqil Shah termed the race as curtain raiser for the forthcoming 31st National Games, scheduled to be held from March 25-31, 2010 here. The Race would lay good impact on the overall situation of the province besides paying way for successful holding of the Games, he added.
Secretary PCF Idrees Khawjah said the first stage of the race would finish at Rawalpindi after crossing a distance of 158km. The cyclists, he said, would cover an overall distance of 1685km in 11 different stages before concluding on March 13 at Mazar-e-Quiad, Karachi.
The detail of the other stages are as under; Rawalpindi-Gujrat (153km), Gujrat-Lahore (115km), and before a rest at Lahore, the cyclists will continue from Lahore-Sahiwal (160km), Sahiwal-Multan (154km), Multan-Bahawalpur (90km), Bahawalpur-Rahim Yar Khan (200km). (Rest Day at Rahim Yar Khan).
After rest-day the cyclists would paddle off from Rahim Yar Khan Sukkur (178km), followed by Sukkur-Moro (150km), Moro-Hyderabad (163km) and Hyderabad-Karachi (153km), which will be the last stage of the Race.
It was the third occasion that the race started from Peshawar and finishing at Mazar-e-Quiad. Last year the race finished at Peshawar whereas Niamat Ali of Sui Southern Gas won the race. It is the fifth occasion that Afghanistan cyclists are taking part in the event.
FATA, Army, WAPDA, Railways, SSG and Punjab, Sindh, Balochistan and NWFP cyclists are also competing in the event carrying lucrative prize money of US&10,000.
