CHARSADDA: An Eid gala at the famous Sardaryab picnic spot here attracted a large number of visitors from across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Fata who enjoyed boating in the Kabul River, horse-riding and fish.

With the improved law and order situation, the famous picnic spot has been drawing crowds of people since the Eidul Fitr.

Situated on the bank of River Kabul, the picnic spot is famous among people of the surrounding districts, including Peshawar.

The visitors also included women and children.

Fazal Hakeem from Khyber Agency, Asim and Salim Mohmand from Mohmand Agency and Mohammad Naseer from Swabi told Dawn the government should develop the spot and provide facilities to visitors. They said they found Sardaryab among the best picnic spots across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. They said the provincial government and the tourism department should develop this spot to improve economic conditions of the local people. They also demanded separate enclosures for women at the spot.

They said stalls of Charsadda’s famous chapal and sweets of Rajar should also be set up for the picnickers.

The tourists said they really enjoyed the horse ride on the banks of River Kabul, which offered a panoramic view.

Security threats didn’t allow holding of the gala for the past some years. However, improved law and order situation in the aftermath of the operation Zarb-i-Azb acted as catalyst to lure people to the picnic spot.

The euphoria has not yet subsided even after Eid as crowds of people are turning up at Sardaryab. But, shortage of drinking water and unchecked food prices are bothering the visitors.

Published in Dawn, July 25th, 2015

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