MINGORA: Local singers attracted a big crowd at a music concert here in district headquarters Mingora late on Saturday night.

The concert titled ‘Sandariz Makham’ was part of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government’s initiative to revive the intangible cultural heritage of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and organised by Swat Youth Front in collaboration with the directorate of culture, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Local singers appreciated the event terming it good for the promotion of folk music. “This will encourage local singers and artists.

The platform provided an opportunity to show our talent in front of music lovers,” Sadia Shah, a female singer, told Dawn who sang in the event and received applause.

She hoped that the government would also organise such events in future. Some participants said that extremism in Swat had negative impacts on the music and singers of the region.

Swat Youth Front praised for organising the event

Zafar Ali Naaz, a local poet, said that people in Swat had witnessed very painful time during the insurgency period. “People who witnessed that dark period had not even expected that cultural events would once again begin in Swat, but today the event gave a new hope of revival of culture,” he said.

Kiramat Shah, a young singer, who had come from Shangla to perform in the event, said that he was excited to see events for culture promotion once again.

He said that the event gave them a sense that singers were also part of the society.

“Actually, after the militancy no big steps were taken to promote our culture and music. So, this is a timely initiative by the culture directorate to revive and promote folk music in KP,” said Haris Badar, a representative of Swat Youth Front.

POWER DISRUPTION: Residents of different parts of Swat district have urged the government to immediately restore electricity disrupted by the recent heavy snowfall.

The recent spell of snowfall across the district had left some mountainous regions cut off after link roads were blocked by snow.

The snowfall also disrupted electricity supply in several areas.

Electricity lines were broken in the mountainous regions of Kabal, Matta and Khawzakhela tehsils leading to blackouts for the last three days.

“Electricity supply to houses has been disrupted for the last four days which could not be restored yet,” said Ibrar Ali, a resident of Dardiyal in Kabal tehsil. Archalai, Godah, Khadi Bela, Samai, Maira, Manrai, Shangwatai, Churr, Dardyal Dada are among other villages awaiting restoration of power supply.

Following public complaints, PML-N leader Amir Muqam asked the Pesco chief executive to take steps for immediate restoration of power supply.

Published in Dawn, February 15th, 2016