July 01, 2008	Tuesday	Jamadi-us-Sani 26, 1429

GILGIT, June 30: The Northern Areas administration has agreed to participate in Shandur Festival after a successful meeting between officials of Chitral and Ghizer district governments.

“They (Chitral govt officials) have acknowledged Gilgit- Baltistan as an equal partner of the event and both sides would jointly organise the event,” Mohammad Ali Yugoui, deputy commissioner Ghizer district, told Dawn.

Mr Yogoui said he represented Gilgit-Baltistan in the meeting while Chitral was represented by DCO Muhtasim Billah and Nazim Magfiratullah.

He said the meeting decided that the security arrangements during the festival would be looked after by both Chitral and Ghizer administrations.

He said the Northern Area Scouts would be deployed at the entry point on the Ghizer side while Chitral Scouts would be posted at Mastoj side.

The Ghizer deputy commissioner said 100 seats each had been reserved for Gilgit-Baltistan as well as the NWFP in VVIP enclosure.

He said Gilgit-Baltistan would be a partner in every activity to be held during the festival and a cordial atmosphere would be ensured during the event.

The deputy commissioner said as a gesture of goodwill the administrations of Chitral and Northern Areas would sit together and resolve the decades-old boundary dispute.

Mr Yugoui said a coordination committee was constituted to resolve matters, adding that a restriction had been imposed on construction on the disputed territory.

He said till the issue was settled no party to the dispute would issue any statement which would hurt the feelings of other side.

The deputy commissioner thanked the local government and administration of Chitral for their cooperation.

Meanwhile, Deputy Commissio-ner, Gilgit, Mohammad Usman Yunas said the administration of Gilgit-Baltistan had arranged live telecast of the festival in collaboration with a mobile phone company.