MINGORA: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Pervez Khattak has announced establishment of Kalam Development Authority which will especially cater for the development of communication, tourism, sports and environment infrastructure in the tourist resort.

He was speaking at the concluding ceremony of the fifth Swat Tourism and Trade Festival 2015 at Shahi Ground, Kalam, on Sunday.

General Officer Commanding, Malakand Army Division, Maj-Gen Nadir Khan, adviser to chief minister on sports and tourism Amjad Afridi, DDAC Swat chairman Fazal Hakim, MNA Salimur Rehman and civil and military officers besides a large number of tourists and local people attended the celebrations.

The chief minister said that Swat was peaceful because of the sacrifices of people of Swat, police and the security forces and organizing such a big tourism-boosting festival was appreciable.

Sultan Golden sets world record of car reverse jump at Swat festival

He also paid tribute to the martyrs of the 1965 Pakistan-India war.

“The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government will organise the summer festival every year to promote tourism and trade in the scenic valley. We have to forget the past and move forward towards development and prosperity to send a clear message to the world that Pakistan is a peaceful country,” he said.

Mr Khattak announced that the government would construct a stadium in the Shahi Ground of Kalam, parks in several areas, link roads to tourist sites and Kalam-Mahodand road.

Famous stuntman Sultan Mohammad Khan Golden also participated in the festival and broke the world record by making a car reverse jump of 37 meters in Shahi Ground at Kalam. The feast was witnessed by a big crowd of tourists and local people. On this occasion, the chief minister and GOC Malakand congratulated him for his successful jump and setting a new record of car reverse jump.

“If the government supports me in my mission, I can win international fame and awards for the country and can set more international records,” Sultan Golden said.

APP ADDS: Chief Minister Pervez Khattak said that participation of a large number of people from every nook and corner of the country in Swat festival showed the fact that peace had been restored in the picturesque valley of Swat.

Describing the events like Swat festival as a source for promoting harmony and brotherhood among the people of the country, Mr Khattak said that it was a matter of pride for the whole nation that the Pakistan Army, the civil government and people were on the same page for combating terrorism and other evils and ensuring progress and development of the country.

He announced that Kalam festival would be made a permanent annual feature of the province.

He said that the Kalam Development Authority would be provided with all required financial and regulatory support.

He said that the local people and tourists would witness a visible progress on improvement of the communication infrastructure as well as other facilities in Kalam by next year.

He said that some projects had already been approved for Kalam.

Expressing concern over delay in the construction of Kalam-Mingora road, the chief minister said that he had held several meetings with the NHA authorities for early completion of the project and he hoped that work would start on the project soon.

The chief minister viewed the stalls of local handicrafts, products and other trade and cultural activities and laid a floral wreath on the monument of martyrs.

Earlier, Maj-Gen Nadir Khan presented the welcome address and highlighted the significance of the festival.

Published in Dawn, September 7th, 2015

On a mobile phone? Get the Dawn Mobile App: Apple Store | Google Play