Proper arrangements for Chilimjusht festival stressed

PESHAWA: Advisor to Chief Minister on Tourism and Culture Zahid Chanzeb on Wednesday directed the relevant departments to make proper arrangements for the upcoming Chilimjusht Festival, which will be held in the scenic Kalash valley in Lower Chitral from May 13 to 17.

“The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Culture and Tourism Authority, Kalash Valley Development Authority, Tourism Police, district administration and other relevant quarters should make befitting arrangements to facilitate the tourists during the spectacular event,” Zahid Chanzeb told a meeting.

KPCTA Director General Barkatullah Marwat, Kalash Valley Development Authority Director General Minhasuddin and other officials attended the meeting, said an official communication.

The advisor asked the relevant departments to reopen camping pods in Bamburet and depute the personnel of Tourism Police to facilitate foreign and domestic tourists and local residents in the gleeful gala. He added that local culture and traditions must be respected and facilities should be provided to the Kalash people to celebrate the annual festival. “Ccamping pods and hotels should be reopened for the attraction and facilitation of tourists, while ensuring security measures for the festival, including the deployment of Tourism Police for assistance and the safety of visitors,” he added.

Briefing the participants, Kalash Valley Development Authority Director General Minhasuddin said that the authority had taken proper steps for the facilitation of tourists, including arranging free parking lots, plan for smooth flow of traffic with the help of Traffic Police, launching cleanliness drive in three valleys of Kalash, installing posters and banners regarding standard operating procedures (SOPs) for the local culture and traditions and promotion of tourism, cultural stalls, arranging home stay for the guest tourists to strengthen Kalash community and inviting prominent social media bloggers and V-loggers to publicise the event worldwide.

He said the KPCTA tourist facilitation centres in Upper Dir and Lower Chitral would also remain open for guidance of tourists and visitors during the event. He said that foreign and domestic tourists can also contact Sayyah Tourism Helpline at 1422 to obtain requisite information before their departure for the thrilling gala.