Kalam Snow Sports Festival concludes

The three-day Kalam Snow Sports Festival successfully concluded with live performances of prominent television artists and a musical concert on Sunday.

The festival largely attracted local and foreign tourists, athletes who enthusiastically participated in various competitions including karate, jujitsu, throw ball, tug of war, snow kabaddi and volleyball.

Locals also enjoyed the musical night, fireworks and the children play land set up for tourists who turned up from all over the country.

On the third and last day of the festival, Deputy Commissioner Swat, Junaid Khan was the chief guest along with other prominent personalities including Director Youth Saleem Jan Marwat, Additional Deputy Commissioner Riaz Khan, Assistant Commissioner Kalam Hidayatullah, Regional Sports Officer Malakand Kashif Farhan and District Youth Officer Farhad Ali.

Peshawar claimed first position in karate with 35 points, followed by Mardan with 25 points whereas Swat took third position with 19 points.

In the jujitsu competition, Peshawar attained first position with four gold medals, three silver medals while Swat bagged the second position with one gold medal, three silver medals and three bronze.

In the throw ball final, Nowshera won the championship by defeating Peshawar.

On the occasion, DC Swat Junaid Khan said the Kalam Snow Festival attracted all kinds of tourists. “The Swat and Malakand divisions attracted more tourists to the beautiful and charming places of other districts,” he said, adding that other events would be organised after the festival to attract more tourists.

The deputy commissioner highlighted that snow-tubing, ice skating, concert, fireworks and cultural events were being organised during the festival in other scenic places.

“Malam Jabba had become an important place for winter sports and adventure tourism due to its natural beauty and culture,” the DC said. “Stalls of traditional clothes, food and handicrafts had been set up to promote local culture.”

Khan maintained that apart from providing facilities to tourists and attracting them, the government was committed to constructing all connecting roads to tourist destinations like Badgui, Kumrat and Upper Dir.

These places are included in the calendar for annual activities, he said, adding that tourists from all over the country enjoyed various adventure sports including zip lining and rock climbing.

“Tourism has not only boosted the local economy and employment but also discovered new destinations,” the DC Swat said. “Other competitions including skiing, speed skating, ice hockey would also be held in the next annual festival.”

Published in The Express Tribune, February 15^th, 2022.