Habibullah of SSGPL clinches Tour de Galiyat Cycling Race

ABBOTTABAD: Habibullah of the Sui Southern Gas Pipeline Limited (SSGPL) was declared overall winner of the two-day sensational Tour de Galiyat National Cycling Race that ended at the scenic Nathiagali on Wednesday.
Najibullah of the Wapda and Awais Khan of the SSGPL clinched second and third positions, respectively.
The Tourism Corporation Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (TCKP) and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Cycling Association (KPCA) had jointly organised the race to promote tourism in the province and also tell the world that KP has now become citadel of peace and harmony.
The second phase of the spectacular cycling race started from Abbottabad and concluded at Nathiagali in the serene Galiyat region.Deputy Commissioner Abbottabad Khalid Mahmood and Director Galiyat Development Authority inaugurated the second leg of the two-day event.
Advisor to KP Chief Minister on Sports and Tourism Amjad Afridi was the chief guest who later gave away cash prizes and souvenirs to the winners at the concluding ceremony.
Additional Secretary Sports & Tourism Muhammad Tariq, General Manager (Events) Muhammad Ali Syed, General Manager Sajjad Hameed, TCKP Managing Director Mushtaq Ahmed Khan, Director Sports Tariq Mahmood, Secretary Pakistan Cycling Federation Syed Azhar Ali Shah, KPCA president Nisar Ahmed and secretary Taifur Zarin and other officials and a large number of spectators were also present.
Speaking on the occasion, Advisor to Chief Minister Amjad Afridi said that his department was working on various programmes to promote sports, tourism and culture in the province and engage youth in healthy and positive activities.
He said this year Shandur Polo Festival could not be held due to the recent devastating floods in Chitral. He, however, said a freestyle polo tournament would soon be organised in Islamabad and all the polo teams would be invited to the event.
The first phase of the race from Islamabad to Abbottabad was earlier concluded on Tuesday in which the

cyclists covered 119 kilometre distance.Habibullah and Awais Khan of the SSGPL had stood first and second while Nisar Khan from Wapda had clinched third position.
Seventy-eight cyclists from nine teams hailing from Balochistan, Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata), Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab, Sindh, SSGPL, Wapda and Pakistan Army participated in the race.