The Shandur festival attracts nearly 10,000 people each year, including celebrities and public figures. PHOTO: FILE
Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Minister for Sports Mehmood Khan on Friday announced the postponement of the famous Shandur Polo Festival which was earlier scheduled to be held from July 2-4.
Floods have severely damaged the roads situated near tributaries of River Ghizer. Nearly one kilometre of the road linking Gilgit with Shandur was submerged as the river flooded and changed its direction. The floodwater suspended traffic between Ghizer valley and Gilgit, because of which nearly 20,000 people have been stranded.
According to Khan, the world renowned Shandur Polo Festival will not be cancelled. New dates for the festival will be announced after Eidul Fitr in consultation with the government of Gilgit-Baltistan, according to a press release.
Shandur, at an altitude of 3,700 metres, is the world’s highest polo ground. The Shandur festival attracts nearly 10,000 people each year, including celebrities and public figures.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 22nd, 2013.
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