UPPER DIR: The 12-day Dir sports and culture festival concluded with a colourful ceremony in Dir Stadium here on Wednesday.
Former MNA Sahibzada Tariqullah was the chief guests on the occasion. Upper Dir acting deputy commissioner Ubaidur Rahman Dogar, district sports officer Mukhtiar Hussain, district nazim Sahibzada Faseehullah and Dir tehsil nazim Mir Makhzan Din also attended the ceremony.
Over 200 teams of various games participated in the event.
Speaking on the occasion, Mr Tariqullah said that such events provided a better opportunity to the local players to develop their skills as they played against players of big cities like Lahore, Peshawar, Mardan and Charsadda.
Over 200 teams participated in various games
He said that players of Upper Dir had the skills and talent in sports which needed to be polished by holding such festivals regularly. Mukhtiar Hussain thanked the players and the officials of teams for their participation in the event.
Malak Cricket Academy, Peshawar, won the cricket final by defeating Royal Shakir Club of Dir. In hockey, Shalimar Hockey Club, Dir, clinched the title by beating Dargai Hockey Club. Lahore’s DHA basketball club emerged as winners in basketball final, while Munda Football Club defeated Peshawar Football Club to lift the trophy. In volleyball, Lowari Golona emerged as winners in the final.
TALENT AWARD SHOW: General Officer Commanding (GOC), Malakand, Maj-Gen Ijaz Mirza has said that foreign forces are trying to destabilise Pakistan by increasing pressure from both the western and eastern sides of the country.
He was addressing the talent award show of PhD and MPhil scholars, which was organised by the district youth office, Upper Dir. Mr Faseehullah, Makhzan Din, former councillors, teachers and students attended the ceremony.
The GOC said that the country’s enemies wanted to weaken it economically. He said that the people of Malakand division had fought against the terrorists and defeated them. He said that there were information that terrorists were trying to enter Upper Dir and Swat from Afghanistan side. However, he added, that the Pakistan Army was fully alert and monitoring the situation. He said that terrorists would never be allowed to enter Upper Dir and Swat again. In the end, prizes and certificates were given to the MPhil scholars.
Published in Dawn, August 29th, 2019