Ski tourism

Malam Jabba is back to its touristic best. Part of district Swat in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province, the resort that lies about 2,590 metres above the sea level had been destroyed by Taliban militants before the Operation Raah-e-Rast carried out by Pakistan Army in 2009 restored the state writ on the picturesque hill station and paved the way for the revival of the one of the top tourist attractions in the country. With relentless efforts of the government and the armed forces of Pakistan, Malam Jabba has once again turned into a big draw for visitors. Millions of local and foreign tourists scale the scenic snow-capped peaks every year for recreation.

Malam Jabba is not a mere tourist destination, it’s a ski resort of international standard too. Having a ski slope of about 800 metres and equipped with modern facilities like roller and ice-skating rinks, chairlifts, and skiing platforms, the breathtaking alps hold special attraction for skiers from around the globe. Besides the National Ski Championship, global events like the International Alpine Ski Cup and the CAS Karakoram International Alpine Ski Cup are being held there with great success for a couple of years. This season’s International Alpine Ski Cup drew players from Canada, Greece, Turkey, Ukraine, Azerbaijan, Tajikistan, Afghanistan and Timor Leste as well as a team led by British High Commissioner Dr Christian Turner.

The efforts of Pakistan Air Force and Winter Sports Federation of Pakistan must be applauded for successful holding of the mentioned mega events, featuring international skiers, which not only serve to raise the standard of winter sports locally, but are also helpful in the context of overall tourism promotion in the country. These sporting events help us showcase the immense tourism potential that is scattered, particularly up north, and that can be a big source of the much-need foreign exchange for our country.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 11^th, 2020.

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