Jubilation in Mohmand: Month-long youth and sports festival closes

Festival ground packed with men, women, children, students of schools and also seminaries

GHALLANAI: The first ever month-long youth sports and cultural festival concluded in Mohmand agency with national zeal. Gymnastics, PT display, traditional dance Attan, national anthem and songs, fighting demo and much more was presented by the youth of Mohmand to display their talent and skills at the festival.

The event was attended by hundreds of youth and elders of agency and all the line departments including FC and levy force had set up stalls. The youth captured photos and made videos with Frontier Corps and Levies force personnel.

They took keen interest in the arms and marble display and other photos displayed on the occasion.



The closing ceremony was held at Ghallanai sports stadium where Peshawar Division Commissioner Shahab Ali Shah, Mohmand political agent and Mohmand Rifles commandant were guests who distributed trophies among the winning and runner-up teams of all major field and indoor games.

There were intense excitement and jubilation among the locals in Mohmand as after restoration of peace in Mohmand and with the onset of Spring, this was the first major festival held in the area.

The festival ground was packed to capacity from early morning where both men, women, children and students of government, private schools and religious seminaries all attended in large numbers.

Tribal elders had also come to witness the festivities.



Mohmand Agency Sport Manager Saeed Akhtar who organised the event along with APA lower Tauseef Khalid speaking to The Express Tribune said that this was the first time in the history of Mohmand Agency that a month-long festival which started on February 13 at Ghallani, and concluded on March 22 in which girls students of agency schools and colleges have participated.

He pointed out that the first time the festival events were held at Safi, Baizai, and Ambar Tehsils which reflected the fact that peace has been restored in these areas after numerous sacrifices rendered by both security forces and tribal people.

He explained that Safi, Baizai and Ambar which were inaccessible areas in the past due to worst law and order situation now have playing fields for cricket, hockey, volleyball, football and athletics where the festival sports events were held.He informed that not only the students of different govt and private schools participated in the events but students of religious seminaries and girls from schools and colleges competed as well.



APA Tauseef Khalid disclosed that for the very first time a photography competition was held in the festival where participants of all ages sent photos depicting the culture and beautiful landscape of the agency which was displayed at the concluding ceremony.

He added that a talent hunt programme was also part of the festival where the youth across the agency have proved their talents in every walk of life.

He concluded by saying “ We are planning to organise a peace Spring event in Safi Tehsil of Mohmand agency, which was once a militant hub and now peace has been restored there which will give a message of to the world”.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 24^th, 2018.