Koh-e-Suleman Festival to be held on August 24

DG Khan commissioner heads the meeting to finalise arrangements for a one-day event


Tariq Ismail August 22, 2019
The most famous site on Fort Munro is Dames Lake where many species of birds can be found. Koh-e-Suleman, Darazinda, Dera Ismail Khan, KPK. PHOTO: ASIF NAWAZ

DERA GHAZI KHAN: The first-ever Koh-e-Suleman Festival will take place on August 24 at Fort Munro – the stunning hill station of southern Punjab.

The initiative is being taken on the orders of Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar and he is likely to grace the occasion.

In order to finalise arrangements, a meeting was held under the chairmanship of Dera Ghazi Khan Commissioner Mudasir Riaz Malik at the RPO office on Wednesday.

Speaking on the occasion, Malik said that a number of colourful programmes, such as a musical night, craft bazaar, food street, fireworks, cultural programmes and bike rally, will be organised. “To provide foolproof security to tourists, arrangements have already been made,” he shared.

He added that services of police and Rangers have also been sought to maintain law and order, while the traffic police will work round-the-clock to facilitate tourists.

The commissioner said the National Highway Authority (NHA) will remove its machinery from the road for a day to ensure traffic flow on the highway. The 24-foot-long road will remain open for traffic.

The possibility of not allowing heavy traffic during the festival was also discussed and officers will make a final soon in this regard. “The government is not spending money on the festival and has sponsors to bear the costs,” said the commissioner.

The Suleman Mountains or Koh-e-Suleman are the southern extensions of the Hindu Kush mountain range. The most famous site on Fort Munro is Dames Lake where many species of birds can be found. A number of renowned musicians will perform at the musical night.

The commissioner has earlier said that this historical festival will be attended by prominent political personalities, including the prime minister and chief minister of the province. “We will focus on the promotion of Koh-e-Suleman as well as other mountainous areas including Hak Bai, Mubaraki Top, Bail Pathar, Barthi and Anari Hills.”

He added that motorcyclists from all parts of the country will visit Fort Munro to participate in motorcycle rallies and camp at various mountainous places. “Tourism activities in the area will be promoted so that people turn towards our beautiful areas.”

The commissioner said that Koh-e-Suleman’s beautiful mountain range will soon become an international destination and once that status is achieved, it will prove to be an important milestone for the region’s progress.

RPO Imran Ahmar, Political Assistant Syed Moosa Raza, Fort Munro Development Authority Director-General Mohammad Hayat, Public Relations Director Riazul Haq Bhatti, Director Arts Council Azfar Zia, Director Admin and Finance Authority Anum Hafeez, SP Investigation Rana Ashraf, DSP Traffic Maher Mohammad Ishaq, NHA’s Habibullah Buzdar and other relevant officers attended the meeting.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 22nd, 2019.

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