CHITRAL, Jan 20: Inclusion of the Baroghil festival in the calendar of events for the “Visit Pakistan Year” is a laudable step as it will help boost tourism in the area. Speaking at a press conference here on Saturday, the nazim of Yarkhoon Union Council, Mohammad Wazir Khan, said the area was unique from the tourists’ point of view. He said the 6km Qurambar Lake and the surrounding mountains, green fields, hot water springs, and archaeological sites were ideal to attract tourists.

Mr Khan said the area was 250km away from Chitral city and its natural beauty was yet to be exploited. The festival opened the door of development and prosperity to the local people who were eking out an existence as poverty reigned supreme there.

The source of the Chitral River lay in the area which was surrounded by two glaciers, namely Chiantar and Chatiboi. He said the festival would be held from July 16 to 18. The festival was also named as the “Yak Festival” as the animal was the only source of income for the local population.

He said yak polo, yak race, horse polo, buz kashi and cultural show would be main events at the festival. The nazim also demanded of the federal government to operate PIA helicopter service between Chitral and Baroghil so that a large number of tourists might be able to visit the area.

He thanked Federal Minister of Tourism Nilofar Bakhtiar in taking due interest in holding the festival under the patronage of the government.