CHITRAL: Lower Chitral district police officer Qamar Hayat has awarded an appreciation letter and cash prize to Ayun sub-divisional police officer Hassanullah for ensuring smooth holding of the chitirmas winter festival of Kalash people, which concluded last week.

Mr Hayat gave him the appreciation letter and cash prize at his office the other day.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr Hayat lauded the strenuous and unrelenting efforts of the officer to formulate an excellent security plan for the winter festival ensuring a foolproof security in the Kalash valleys of Bumburate, Birir and Rumbur to enable the minorities to perform their rituals without any fear.

“Due to the security plan and the performance of the police force deployed in the valleys, the tourists were fully contended with the security measures, while all possible facilities were also made available to them during the festival,” he said.

Mr Hayat said that the festival of Kalash tribes had world fame, and that providing efficient security in the wake of recent threats was really a challenge for the police.

The elders of Kalash community and the tourists had appreciated the local police for making extraordinary security arrangements in the valleys.

It is to mention here that feared prevailed in the Bumburate valley since the Taliban attack on September 6 last year.

STALE CHICKEN MEAT: The residents of Chitral have complained about the sale of spurious chicken meat in the city due to the inaction of the relevant departments, including the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Food Safety and Halal Food Authority, the food department and the district administration.

They regretted that the meat shops of the city always brimmed with chicken already slaughtered, which was not allowed under the law as no meat could be sold in the market without the certification of the area veterinary doctor.

They said chicken was always sold live, which was weighed by the poultry seller and then slaughtered before the customer.

When contacted, an official of the authority in Chitral, told Dawn that traders offered resistance whenever he tried to ban sale of spurious chicken meat.

Published in Dawn, January 2nd, 2024