Three-day Shandur Festival commences on June 28

PESHAWAR
An important meeting held here on Monday with Advisor to Chief Minister on Tourism Zahid Chanzeb in the chair, finalised arrangements for the three-day annual Shandur Polo Festival in Upper Chitral.
The meeting decided to commence the three-day Shandur Polo Festival from June 28 this year at the highest polo ground of the world. The Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur will attend as the chief guest, an official handout said.
The polo teams from Chitral and Gilgit-Baltistan will play at the 12,000-high Shandur Polo Ground, the highest in the world.
Apart from the representation of the federal government of both the provinces, foreign tourists are also expected to participate in this grand sports gala.
The meeting to finalise preparation for the historic festival was attended by the Secretary Tourism Mohammad Bakhtiar Khan, Director General Culture and Tourism Authority Barkatullah Marwat and other relevant officials.
Commissioner Malakand Division and Deputy Commissioners of Chitral Upper and Lower and Dir Bala, Additional Chief Secretary of Gilgit-Baltistan, Local Administrative Officers and Sports Officials participated online and after reviewing various aspects of arrangements and suggestions and recommendations, necessary decisions were taken.
Zahid Chanzeb clarified that the current government of PTI is paying special attention to the development of tourism according to the vision of Imran Khan.
He said that all possible efforts would be made to make the festival a successful event.
The CM’s aide to tourism added that before the start of this wonderful fair, the clearance of all the relevant highways, security, availability of food items and fuel in sufficient quantity at the petrol pumps is the first duty of the concerned authorities and institutions.
He directed concerned Deputy Commissioners to hold separate meetings with the players of the teams participating in the polo tournament and the local people and leaders to take them into confidence in a very pleasant atmosphere so that they can make the festival a success in all respects.
He also instructed the players to put the best logos on the shirts so that the tourism and culture department has excellent branding and tourism in the province flourishes and due to the increase in domestic and foreign tourists, the province’s income, especially foreign exchange, is continuously increased.
On this occasion, the officials assured the Tourism Advisor to work day and night with all their abilities for the successful organization of the Shandur Polo Festival and clarified that they will not disappoint the provincial government at any stage as the development of tourism will help the province.