PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Frontier Corps Deputy Inspector General Qaiser Ali on Tuesday said that some anti-state elements were spreading baseless rumours about the cancellation of the Shandur festival.
A press release was issued after a meeting with Deputy Commissioner Chitral, Sector Commander North Brigadier Muhammad Ziaul Islam and Commandant Chitral Squat Colonel Nizamud Din Shah that said the festival would be held as planned on the dates scheduled (July 29 to 31). It also assured of the event’s fool-proof security measures besides urging the public to ignore the cancellation rumours.
Shandur, one of Pakistan’s biggest festivals, was held from July 7–9 every year at Chitral’s Shandur Top in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The polo festival, played between Gilgit-Baltistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s teams, is experienced as a free-style polo match.
The festival’s start sees the arrival of a large number of people, days before the tournament, to enjoy all the activities that includes dance and music performances by different groups, trout fishing, mountaineering, trekking, hiking and of course, Horse riding. Crystal clear lakes, snow-covered mountains, alpine flowers and vast stretches of green grass are the added attractions.
For visitors to Shandur, motels at made available at Panah Kot (Dir), Chitral, Bamburet (Kalash Valley), Besham (KKH), Barseen (KKH) and Gilgit, while a tent village with all the facilities is also set up on the Pass.
