Three-day Kumrat Festival to start on June 22

UPPER DIR, June 21 (APP)::Deputy Commissioner (DC) Upper Dir, Irfan Ullah Mehsud on Thursday said the
most awaited Kumrat Summer Sports and Cultural Festival will commence on June 22
here at scenic Kumrat Valley.
Talking to APP, he said for ensuring maximum facilities to the local,
national and international tourists all out resources have been utilized with
the aim to attract maximum number of tourists to the beautiful scenic valley.
He said that 80 percent of work have
already been completed on the pavement of roads while the rest was
underway at fast pace.Besides, foolproof security measures, provision of day healthcare,
accommodations, and other facilities would be ensured to facilitate the maximum
number of tourists, he added.
“We were working hard to open our arms and welcome
all the tourists to this beautiful scenic valley not only for
the Kumrat Festival, which is an annual feature but also in other times during
summer,” Mehsud added.
He confirmed that more than 60,000 vehicles have been cross toward Kumrat
Valley apart from thousands from nearby areas. He said: “We have work widely to
address all problems related to the tourists so that to ensure flawless
arrangements for the tourists this year turned up. “It has more impact on the
socio-economic aspect and that is why we are gathering data to guide the local
and international tourists to come and enjoy their trips to these scenic valleys.”
The District Administration along with local bodies
representatives comprising District Nazim Sahibzada Faseehullah, Tehsil Nazim
Kalkot Malak Tajbar Khan, DSO Mukhtiar Hussain are all there to extend their
support for the success of Kumrat Festival, that relate to our people sole
bread earning, he said.
He said “we want to present Kumrat Valley as more
attraction to the local and foreign tourists only to promote tourism besides
giving a message of peace and love to the rest of the people around the world.
The festival is also carrying healthy sports activities wherein youth from
various part of the district are taking part in different games.
He said tourist guideline desks have been established at
various points with the aim to provide guidance to the tourists and maximum
work has been completed on the construction of roads linking the valley.
He said they have developed a tent-age village for
accommodating more than 1,000 people besides separate families’ blocks have
been available with all the facilities.
The guidelines will also be available at the nearest police
stations and there will be no hardship for the visitors, Irfan informed.
The rates of accommodations, food have been ensured with cheaper rates and
should be in the reach of common people, he added.
“We have joint accommodation for six
persons, eight persons and separate for the families as well,” he said, adding that
“we want to make the festival a big success and we have to facilitate the
visitors.”
When contacted District Nazim Faseehullah expressed his
jubilation over the huge response of the people from various parts of the
country and even international tourists are also there and enjoyed the
beautiful Kumrat valleys. “Such festival would bring good to the local people
besides highlighting the softer image of the district people”.
He said local government representatives alongside TMA,
district administrations were working round the clock only to extend maximum
facilities to the tourists either coming for Kumrat Festival or for avoiding
hot summer days.
“We want to develop the area as a leading tourist’s
destination of the country and we have more venues to explore,” he said.
He reiterated that the district administration have constituted a committee to look
and see the quality of food, rates, medical care facilities, fast aid.
He disclosed that matches of various games, including
cricket, volleyball, tug-of-war, kabaddi, horse race and a popular traditional
game ‘Sakhay’ will be organized alongside different cultural events.
Kumrat can arguably be termed as one of the most scenic
valleys of KP and will undoubtedly ranked among the top tourist spots of the
country, it has yet more work to be done as far as construction of basic
infrastructure. Dubbed as “Kumrat Festival”, the low budget gala will be at
lush green plains and thick forest of tall Deodar (pine) trees beside the
melodious Thal stream lured only to attract people to the heavenly Kumrat
Valley.