Derajat festival concludes: Govt committed to promoting culture, tourism: Gandapur

DERA ISMAIL KHAN: The Derajat Festival 2025 concluded with great fanfare at the Ratta Kulachi Sports Stadium here on Sunday.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur distributed prizes among participants who showcased exceptional performances in various competitions, including the off-road jeep challenge.

Speaking on the occasion, the chief minister praised the departments and administration responsible for the successful organisation of the festival. He reaffirmed his commitment to continue and further improve the Derajat festival to promote local culture and tourism. He stated that the purpose of the event was to highlight the region’s culture, traditions, sports, and tourism potential. The enthusiastic participation of artists, athletes, and the general public from across the country was highly encouraging, he added.

Gandapur said that the successful execution of the festival was proof that the region was peaceful and held immense cultural, historical, and tourism significance. “Our forces and people have made tremendous sacrifices and bravely faced adversity,” he said, adding, “The peaceful execution of multiple events over the 40-day festival, with massive public participation, sends a strong positive message to the entire world.”

He pledged to continue promoting such positive activities, preserving local traditions, and passing them on peacefully to future generations. Gandapur said that all kinds of sports, literary, and cultural activities have become an integral part of the Derajat festival, offering opportunities to people from all walks of life to enjoy the events and showcase their talents.

Acknowledging the critical role of law-enforcement agencies, rescue teams, and other security personnel in ensuring the festival’s success, he announced a reward for them. The chief minister concluded by reiterating that all decisions and actions under his administration were being made on merit, in line with Imran Khan’s policies.

Since taking office, he said, sports events were being held regularly without any reported complaints of bias or unfairness. He urged other departments to maintain the same standards of merit and transparency in their operations.

The festival featured an impressive lineup of events such as jeep racing, tent pegging, horse riding, boxing, kabaddi, wrestling, dodda, kodi, and other traditional sports.