Shandur Polo Festival begins today

PESHAWAR: A three-day annual Shandur Polo Festival will begin today (Saturday) at the world’s highest polo ground in Chitral. 

Chief Minister Pervez Khattak will inaugurate the event.The advisor to the chief minister on tourism, Abdul Munim Khan, Secretary Sports, Tourism, Culture, Archaeology, Museums, Youth Affairs, Mohammad Tariq, Tourism Corporation Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (TCKP) Managing Director Mushtaq Ahmed Khan and other officials are also accompanying the chief minister.

The polo teams of Chitral, Gilgit-Baltistan, Laspur, Mastuj and Ghizer are participating in the polo tournament.Speaking to reporters, Abdul Munim said that provincial government had taken measures for organising the Shandur Polo Festival in an appropriate manner to attract domestic and foreign tourists to the scenic region this year.

“A tented village has also been set up and adequate arrangements have been made for food and stay of local and foreign tourists,” he added. He said that some news teams have also entered the festival this year, and that is why the audience is expected to be bigger this time. 

The Chitral district government, police, Pakistan Army and other institutions are providing security for the event. The relevant departments have already renovated polo ground at Shandur Pass and taken measures for the water supply, transport and provision of other facilities to the participating teams, fans and tourists.

In addition to music and cultural evenings and traditional dances, the local artisans and skilled entrepreneurs and other stakeholders would showcase their products and traditional foods.A camping village and stalls had already been established to highlight and promote the artworks of the Chitral and Gilgit, besides rafting in the Lake Shandur, paragliding, archery and kite flying activities.