National Games torch to travel from Karachi to Peshawar

PESHAWAR: The Torch relay of the 33rd National Games will start from Mazar-i-Quaid and to reach Peshawar Sports Complex after crossing a distance of 2800 km, Managing Director Tourism Corporation, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Junaid Khan said while talking to media here on Sunday.

Junaid Khan, who headed the Torch Relay Committee, said that holding of 33rd National Games in Peshawar and conduct a Torch Relay means presenting a softer imager of KP to the rest of the world.

Accompanied with DG Sports, Asfandyar Khattak, he said, this time a unique route for the Torch Relay was introduced to highlight the beauty of Pakistan to the world, adding, “We want to introduce our culture and tourism potential to the people around the world that is why it has been given a unique route.”

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After the start of Torch Relay, it would be receiving at Quetta, Balochistan, Lahore, Punjab and instead of receiving it at Attock Bridge, we will receive the Torch at the Babu Sar Top from the officials and players of Gilgit-Baltistan (G-B).

“We want to highlight the beauties of Babusar, Naran, Kaghan valleys and from that onward, the torch will enter into Mansehra-Abbottabad-Attock on Main GT Road, reach Torkhum Border, followed by a stopover at historical Michini Post-Khyber Pass and on the day of the opening ceremony it will be entering into Peshawar Sports Complex. A ceremony of the Torch Relay will be organized in the Michani Fort wherein high dignitaries will be expected to grace the occasion as guests,” he said.

A festive event, he said, will be held at the Babusar Top with officials from G-B and K-P will be there soon after arriving at Naran on October 18.

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A special event will be organised at the Attock Bridge on October 20 with culture night and firework, followed by a musical night wherein local arts would performance folk dances including Chitrali, Khattak, Mehsud, Betani and traditional Athern, Junaid Khan said.

When reaching the Torch Relay, legends of sports would carry it in the historical Qisa Khawani Bazar, a ceremony of the Torch Relay will also be organized at historical Balahisar Fort.

He said legendary sports persons including Olympian Rahim Khan, Musaddiq Hussain, Qazi Salahuddin, squash legends Jansher Khan, Qamar Zaman, international Bahre Karam, International Ihsan, Khalid Noor, Abdur Rehman Khan will carry the Torch toward Olympic podium to lit the Game flame in Qayyum Sports Complex, the venue for the opening and closing ceremonies.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 30^th, 2019.