GILGIT: A two-day Cherry Festival concluded at the Rakaposhi viewpoint in Nagar district on Sunday, attracting visitors, including foreigners.

The local people, including women, had set up stalls of different varieties of cherry, traditional foods, gemstone and handicraft, apricot oil and other organic food items.

The district administration held the event to promote agri-tourism in the region.

GB top officials also visited the stalls and purchased different items and fruits.

They also enjoyed traditional foods, including Chapshoro.

Nagar deputy commissioner Zaid Ahmed Zaid told reporters that basic purpose of organising the event was to explore agri-tourism potential of the district. “Tourists visiting the area can enjoy different kinds of organic dishes, many varieties of cherry and dry fruits,” he said.

GB secretary agriculture Khadim Hussain Saleem, secretary food Safdar Khan, commissioner Gilgit division Mir Waqar, Vice-Chancellor Karakoram International University Attaullah Shah and other officials also visited the stalls.

Assistant commissioner, Nagar, Arif Hussain said a large number of tourists, including foreigners, visited the festival.

Ramzan Ali, an agriculture department official, said local farmers most benefited from the event as they would have easy access to national and international markets to sell their products.

“Not only local people but also the tourists had the opportunity to purchase products directly from local people at affordable rates,” he said.

Safdar Mirza, a local resident, said such events helped empower women.

A German tourist said he couldn’t imagine that the area had such potential of fruits and organic foods.

Published in Dawn, May 30th, 2022