Recreational Activities: Governor inaugurates Swat Tourist Gala

The event is joint venture of the provincial government and the army with different attractions such as snow festival

MINGORA: K-P Governor Sardar Mehtab Abbasi on Thursday said Swat was a “tourist’s paradise” and that festivals were crucial for promoting tourism in the scenic valley. Addressing tourists in Kalam after inaugurating the four-day Swat Tourist Gala, Abbasi said the condition of roads in Kalam was poor due to the damage done by recent floods. “I stress that the National Highway Authority chairman and the prime minister will reconstruct the road to Kalam because without proper roads, tourism cannot be revived and promoted.” According to the organisers of the event, around 100,000 tourists have arrived in Kalam to witness the Swat Tourist Gala. At the opening ceremony, children from different schools sang national songs and performed skits, while paragliders of the Pakistan Army performed daring feats. The event is a joint venture of the provincial government and the army with different attractions such as snow festival, sports festival, paragliding and other events commemorating the glory of Swat.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 8^th, 2014.