PESHAWAR: Adviser to the chief minister on tourism, culture, archaeology and museums Zahid Chanzeb on Friday said that the merged tribal districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa had abundant natural beauty and scenic spots to attract foreign and domestic tourists.

“New tourist sites here will soon become the centre of attraction for tourists. We have opened camping pods and a rest house for tourists at the Samana Top to provide them with comfortable and affordable accommodation and recreational facilities so that they can enjoy their stay in the scenic site,” Mr Chanzeb told the inaugural ceremony for the three-day Jashan-i-Baharan Spring Festival in the Kharashakhwa Storikhel area of Orakzai tribal district.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Culture and Tourism Authority directorgeneral Barkatullah Marwat, project director for Tourism Wing for Merged Districts Ishtiaq Khan, Orakzai deputy commissioner Tayyab Abdullah, district policeofficer Nazir Ahmad, Lt-ColonelTariq Rahimof Orakzai Scouts and others were also present on the occasion.

On the directives of Chanzeb, the Jashan-i-Baharan Festival will be held until June 9, according to an official statement issued here.

The event is organised by the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Culture and Tourism Authority (KPCTA) in collaboration with the Tourism Wing for Merged Districts, Orakzai district administration and the paramilitary wing of Pak Army, to “showcase traditional and non-traditional sports competitions for the tourists and local people.”

Mr Chanzeb said that rest areas would be built to facilitate visitors to Orakzai.

He said Orakzai was a beautiful district having many tourist spots, including Kalaya, Samana Top, Gulistan fort, Ferozkhel, Ziarah, Landoka, Nanwar Cave, Toi Khala waterfall, Sikh monument and Spinkai, which had been opened to tourists.

He said the festival was meant to attract tourists and involve the local people in tourism and cultural activities to promote tourism, create employment opportunities and strengthen the local economy.

“The Jashn-i-Baharan Festival will not only engage the local people in tourism and cultural activities but also attract tourists to this area to promote tourism and boost the local economy,” he said.

The festival features jeep, cycle and motorcycle races, contests of tug-of war, arrow shooting, boat races, truck pulling, tractor pulling, stone lifting, mud wrestling, kabaddi, paragliding, archery, local traditional games, cricket, football, volleyball and volleyball, and horse and camel dances, and competitions of traditional sports.

Cultural stalls representing all four provinces as well as Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan have also been set up at the festival. Cultural and music shows and traditional dance performances are also part of the gala.

Published in Dawn, June 8th, 2024