Gobor festival ends in Chitral

CHITRAL: The three-day colourful Jashn-e-Gobor festival concluded on Saturday.

Various games including polo, bazkashi, football, mountain race and others were organised during the festival.

Senior Provincial Minister for Local Government Inayatullah Khan was chief guest at the concluding ceremony of the spectacular festival.

Speaking on the occasion, he said that Chitral was situated at a very strategically important place. He said that the district connected the country with the Central Asian states. He said the people of the heavenly beautiful valley on earth were social, educated and patriots. He added that the alternative route for the multi-billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project should be constructed in the valley to bring the district on a par with other parts of the country.

Expressing disappointment over the dilapidated condition of Gobor road, he said that non-construction of roads in the land-locked district was an impediment to development of the valley and prosperity of its people.

He announced Rs20 million for the construction of Gobor road from the Local Government fund and pledged to take up the issue with the government to get approved more funds for the project.

He said the provincial government had announced the setting up of an Area Development Project for the rehabilitation of the infrastructure damaged by the recent flash floods and allocated Rs500 million for the project. He said that the Gobor festival was of very importance and provided recreational opportunity for the people of the far-off district. He said that efforts would be made to include the festival in the calendar events of the provincial government. He appreciated the efforts and successful holding of the festival by the organisers of the event. Later the chief guest distributed trophies and shields among the winner teams.