Malam Jabba: ‘Ski and Smile Snow Festival’ comes to an end

Corps commander says valley now has ‘perfect peace’.

SWAT: The four-day long ‘Ski and Smile Snow festival’ aimed at reviving tourism in Swat wrapped up on Sunday.

The festival was organised by the district government and the Pakistan Army at Malam Jabba, a popular ski resort at 9,000 feet.

Peshawar Corps Commander Khalid Rabbani was the chief guest on the concluding day. He distributed prizes and shields among the participants of the ski festival, who had come from all over the country.

According to the corps commander, the valley of Swat now has “perfect peace”, achieved by the sacrifices of locals and security forces.

“It is now the responsibility of the people of Swat to cooperate with security forces and law enforcement agencies to not to let miscreants enter the valley so prosperity prevails in this paradise-like valley,” the commander said.

Thousands of tourists flocked to the resort for the closing ceremony. Visitors could be seen enjoying the pristine blanket of snow, engaging in snow fights.



“What more could we ask for than this breathtaking view of pure white around us?” Syam Saboor, a tourist from Rawalpindi told The Express Tribune.

Many tourists praised the peace and serenity in the valley as they attended the festival organised by the security forces.

“The hustle and bustle is proof of peace itself. I visited Swat at the time of mayhem when the valley was deserted. The government must conduct such activities often,” said Zahoor Elahi, a tourist from Quetta.

Tourists, however, had reservations about the dilapidated roads. “There need to be proper arrangements for tourists and roads need to be in better condition,” asserted Atia Haq, a tourist from Lahore. She added college and universities should also make an effort to bring their students to Malam Jabba.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 18^th, 2013.