PESHAWAR: The tourism departments of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Gilgit-Baltistan finally made peace with each other and decided to push aside their differences and take part in Shandur International Polo Festival with full fervour to attract tourists.

It was nothing but respect for a mutual culture which helped the two governments to clear away their differences that had been marring the festivities of the annual polo festival for the last three years.

“Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is like our big brother that is why we wanted to come here,” said Gilgit-Baltistan Tourism Minister Inayatullah Shamali while explaining that they were in Peshawar to discuss the ways to hold the polo festival on equality basis. He said that they agreed to keep other issues and differences aside with an aim to promote tourism by holding the annual event.

The teams of Gilbit-Baltistan had been boycotting the annual polo festival for the last three years owing to a land dispute with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. However, this year ahead of the event, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government organised a cultural evening on Sunday night to remove reservations of Gilgit-Baltistan and welcome its delegation headed by Mr Shamali.

It was quite visible that politicians and civil society members hailing from Chitral were ahead of everyone in welcoming the delegation. The exchange of gifts including traditional caps, Chugha (woolen cloak) and shawls between the hosts and guests brought them closer while music and dance did the rest.

Gilgit-Baltistan agrees to take part in Shandur Polo Festival

In the end of the cultural evening the members of delegation from Gilgit-Baltistan and Chitralis were dancing on one rhythm and beat. All were singing in one tune.

The cultural evening was followed by a seminar entitled ‘Shandur Peace’ on Monday morning that was attended by officials, politicians and civil society members from Khyber Pakthunkhwa and Gilgit-Baltistan.

Mr Shamali and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Adviser on Tourism Amjad afridi discussed how to push aside other issues and make promotion of tourism a priority.

The Gilgit-Baltistan delegation announced that its polo team would take part in Shandur Polo Festival.

Mr Afridi said that since both the governments seemed agreed to promote tourism so Shandur Polo Festival would be held in first week of August this year.

He said that Gilgit-Baltistan polo players and its administration had some reservations which the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government had removed. On invitation of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government, Gilgit-Baltistan has agreed to take part in polo matches.

Both the sides seemed happy to have resolved their differences through talks and respecting cultural norms. Both the sides also expressed that this summer Shandur Festival would draw more tourists to watch exciting matches on one of the highest polo ground of the world.

Published in Dawn, April 21st, 2015

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