The Shandur festival attracts nearly 10,000 people each year, including celebrities and public figures. PHOTO: FILE
PESHAWAR:
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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The KP and GB government must take this matter seriously. This festival attracts over 10,000 people every year to Shandur and accounts for a huge economic activity as well. Only one kilometre road was damaged and the two governments, the federal government and even the Pak Army should extend its cooperation in rebuilding the damaged road and make this event happen this year too as always.