PESH AWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has decided to hold the three-day annual Shandur Polo Festival in July.

This was decided during a meeting held here on Monday with Mohammad Tariq, the secretary of sport, tourism, archaeology, museums, culture and youth affairs, in the chair, said a press release.

The meeting was also attended by Mushtaq Ahmed Khan, the managing director of Tourism Corporation Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Hayat Ali Shah, senior general manager chief planning officer, Haseena, assistant tourism officer, and other officials.

The tourism secretary said that the festival would provide an opportunity of enjoyment to tourists, spectators and fans of the polo game. He said that the festival would be unique that year as local artisans and skilled entrepreneurs would be provided an opportunity to showcase their products besides polo game, traditional music and dances in the gala.

The official said rafting in the Shandur Lake, paragliding, archery and 1(ite flying would be other features of the event to attract domestic and foreign tourists.

In addition to setting up camp village, stalls would be established to highlight and promote the artworks of Chitral and Gilgit artists. The game, being played at the highest polo ground of the world at Shandur Pass in Chitral, has got international fame.

`This year, the number of foreign and domestic tourists will be larger as compared to the previous years as peace has been restored in the province and the condition of acquiring no objection certificate for the international visitors and tourists has already been withdrawn,` said the press release. Bureau Report