Arrangements for upcoming Shandur festival discussed

PESHAWAR: The officials and stakeholders on Thursday discussed arrangements to hold the upcoming Shandur Polo Festival in a successful manner.

Chaired by Chief Secretary Nadeem Aslam Chaudhary, the meeting was attended by various officials and stakeholders including additional chief secretary Home, Secretary Information & Public Relations, Secretary Administration, Secretary Culture and Tourism, Director General Information, representatives of Civil Aviation, Chitral Polo Association, Chamber of Commerce and Travel Agent Association. And commissioner, regional police officer Malakand Division, Commandant Chitral Scouts, deputy commissioners and DPOs of Upper and Lower Chitral participated in the meeting via video link, said an official communique.

The chief secretary was given a comprehensive briefing on the planning and coordination efforts for the festival.Emphasizing the importance of portraying a positive image of Pakistan globally, he urged all stakeholders to expedite their efforts to finalize the arrangements and develop a comprehensive plan.

The chief secretary highlighted the significance of the Shandur Polo Festival as a cultural showcase for the province, stressing the need for top-notch arrangements to accommodate local and foreign tourists, media representatives and other guests.

He directed the National Highway Authority (NHA) to accelerate work on roads to facilitate tourists and ensure the availability of heavy machinery for emergency situations like landslides.

Furthermore, Chief Secretary Chaudhary instructed for the establishment of special stalls to promote handicrafts and locally produced goods of Chitral, aiming to boost the local economy. It was also noted that special PIA flights from Islamabad to Chitral would be arranged to facilitate tourists attending the festival.

The final schedule of the polo tournament will be announced soon, considering input from all stakeholders and weather conditions.