MUZAFFARABAD: A two-day Neelum snow festival would be inaugurated at the district headquarters of the picturesque Neelum valley of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) on Saturday, an official said on Friday.

Deputy Commissioner Shaukat Khan Yousufzai told Dawn by telephone that the festival had been planned to promote winter tourism and cultural activities in the valley in collaboration with different stakeholders.

Divisional Commissioner Masoodur Rehman would inaugurate the festival, he said.

The events on Saturday would include a jeep rally from his office in Athmuqam to Upper Neelum village, winter games and a sufi musical function at a rest house in Karan along the bank of Neelum River.

Food stalls and an exhibition of Kashmiri art and craft would also be arranged from 10am and 4pm at the same spot, he said.

Karen is about 96 km northeast of Muzaffarabad along the main Neelum valley road.

However, Mr Yousufzai said similar events, including local games, had also been planned in the towns of Sharda and Kel in the upper belt of the valley to celebrate the festival.

Published in Dawn, January 8th, 2022