MINGORA: Hundreds of families from across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and parts of Punjab are shifting temporarily to the upper belt of Swat valley to spend the holy month of Ramazan in pleasant weather. With the rise in mercury in plain areas of KP and Punjab many families have shifted to Madyan, Bahrain, Kalam and Miandam areas where, according to them, they observed the fast while enjoying the cool weather.

“We were not in a position to stand the scorching heat as everyday there was a rise in temperature, so, we as usual came to Bahrain and rented a house here for the month of Ramazan. Here the weather is unbelievably pleasant in the daytime and cold during the nights,” said Zafar Ullah Khan, a resident of Peshawar who shifted to Swat with his family.

People also complained about excessive power outages in their areas which forced them to run to Swat. “We ran away from the severe heat and prolonged power loadshedding. When we reached here we took a sigh of relief as the weather is fantastic,” said Akbar Ali, a resident of Swabi district.

Many families from Mardan, Charsadda, Nowshera, Peshawar and parts of Punjab said that they spent Ramazan every year in Swat.

“We shift to Kalam every summer as my children cannot live in the unbearably hot weather. We also enjoy the natural beauty here,” said Zaman Khan, a resident of Mardan.

Many people said that they spent much of their time along the Swat River or other streams gushing out of the small vales.

“After offering Zuhr prayers we come out and sit on the bank of Swat River and enjoy the cool breeze. It is so cool and pleasant here that I don’t even feel that I am in fasting,” said Itebar Gul, another resident of Mardan.

With the influx of families, shopkeepers and hotel owners are also happy to have a number of customers. “We wait for the summer season as many families and tourists come here which help us earn more,” said Iqbal Ali, a shopkeeper in Madyan bazaar.

Published in Dawn, June 3rd, 2017