Senate Chairman Mohammad Sadiq Sanjrani participating and giving message through video during the Ground Breaking ceremony and Fund raising program of Almarah Foundations APNA GHAR
Shandur polo attracts tourists on second day in droves
SHANDUR, Jul 08 (APP): Shandur polo event attracted a large number of tourists and local residents on the second day here Saturday amid great fun and excitement.
Known as Game of Kings, the free-style polo is a unique sport of Pakistan that was played in the world’s highest polo ground at Shandur pass in the second week of July every year.
Located in the lap of the Hindukash mountains in the Upper Chitral district, Shandur polo ground where a three days polo festival is currently underway on some 12,000 feet height, attracted domestic and foreign tourists, adventure sports lovers and the local population on the second day and applauded the experienced and young players of Chitral and Gilgit Baltistan with cheering hands.
The spectators are overwhelmed by the cultural folk music, shandur lake, paragliding, rocks climbing, mountaineering and delectable foods.
“I have heard a lot about Shandur polo festival and today my dream to watch my favourite free-style polo matches in the world’s highest polo ground came true,” said Ali Khan, a resident of Peshawar while talking to APP.
“The horse riding skills and sportsmen spirit demonstrated by the players impressed me the most,” he said.
Shandur polio had been played between Chitral and Gilgit Baltistan teams since 1930. In 1935, UK administrator for northern areas, Evelyn Cobb ordered the construction of a polo ground at Shandur and later on it was formally organized under the government’s patronage since 1982.
The polo event was won 13 times by Gilgit-Baltistan and 16 times by Chitral. Shahzada Sikandar Ul Mulk (Captain of Chitral Polo team) has a unique distinction for winning it 13 times for his team followed by Raji Rehmat of Gilgit by seven times for his team as captain.
Before Shandur polo, preliminary matches were played at GB and Chitral in which the best players and horses were selected for the mega event. Each team consists of six players with two to four reserve players.
Besides freestyle polo, tourists enjoyed paragliding, rocks mountaineering, music, cultural dances and local sports.
KP Culture and Tourism Authority (KPCTA) in collaboration with Pakistan Army, District Administrations of Chitral Upper and Lower, Police and other relevant departments organized the event.
Shahidullah Khan, Commissioner Malakand said that the KP government and relevant departments deserved appreciation for the successful holding of Shandur polo festival this year.
He said preparations for the event were started six months ago, adding the federal government has been requested for construction of the Mastuj Road for better road connectivity to Shandur.
He said Malakand division was most suited for adventure and mountains sports and the provincial government, tourism department and KPCTA are working together to make this mountainous region a hub of tourism.
Meanwhile, the paragliders exhibited a spectacular show of para trooping and performed various daring tricks in the sky, making the event memorable.
Children from Gilgit-Baltistan and Chitral performed on national songs, whereas traditional dances were exhibited by the boys of Kalash valley.
Traditional music of Gilgit Baltistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa besides the popular Shandur song of Zek Afridi enthralled spectators on drums beats.
Impressed by paragliding, another tourist of Nowshera district, Khayam Omar said that he took keen interest in adventure sports including mountaineering, hiking, rocks climbing and traditional food besides polo matches here.
Enjoying the pleasant but relatively cool nights at Shandur, he said cultural and musical shows with traditional ‘tabla and rabab took tourists over the moon.
He suggested using of digital technology to showcase Shandur polo abroad to earn valuable foreign exchange for the country.
Saad Khan, spokesman of Cultural and Tourism Authority KP told APP that stalls were established to promote the artwork of Chitral and Gilgit Baltistan’s artists.
Director General, KP Culture and Tourism Authority, Bakhtiar Khan said that tourism police were deployed to assist and guidance of tourists at Malakand and Hazara divisions including Shandur.
He said elaborate arrangments regarding food, accommodation and security were made for facilitation of tourists at Shandur.
Zaka Ashraf hopeful about Pak team success in Lanka tour and Asia Cup
By Sohail Ali
LAHORE, Jul 08 (APP): Chairman of the Management Committee of Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Zaka Ashraf has called the captain Babar Azam before the departure of the Pakistan team to Sri Lanka and expressed his best wishes to the entire team.
He expressed the hope that Pak team will live up to the expectations during the tour of Sri Lanka and Asia Cup as well by performing to a high level to attain success. He asked Babar Azam to convey his best wishes to every team member.
Zaka Ashraf said: “It is expected that the team will achieve success for Pakistan in the tour of Sri Lanka and the Asia Cup.”
On this occasion, Babar Azam congratulated Zaka Ashraf on assuming the post of chairman Management Committee and said that Pakistan had won the Asia Cup in his previous tenure as well, God willing, he will bring the Asia Cup to Pakistan this time too.
Pak cricket captain said that Pakistan will leave no stone unturned to take the team higher, will enter the field with full energy for the sake of Pakistan.
Pak team in the tour of Sri Lanka will play two test match series.
Edhi humanist, humanitarian par excellence: FO
ISLAMABAD, Jul 8 (APP): Abdul Sattar Edhi was a humanist and humanitarian par excellence, and will always be remembered for his selfless devotion and service to humanity, said Foreign Office in a tweet on Saturday.
“Today we honour the life and legacy of Abdul Sattar Edhi on his 7th death anniversary. A humanist and a humanitarian par excellence, Edhi will always be remembered for his selfless devotion and service to humanity,” it added.
Pak Ambassador to United States Ambassador Masood Khan during meeting with Mr. Pervez Abbasi Project Director National Incubation Center at the Embassy of Pakistan Washington DC
The Foreign Minister of Switzerland Ignazio Cassis calls on the Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in Governor House
The Foreign Minister of Switzerland Ignazio Cassis calls on the Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in Governor House
The Foreign Minister of Switzerland Ignazio Cassis calls on the Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in Governor House
Uzbekistan Presidential election to be held tomorrow
TASHKENT, Jul 08 (APP): The Presidential Elections of Uzbekistan is going to be held tomorrow (July 9) and more than 19.66 million registered voters are expected to use their right of vote to elect the country’s new President for the next seven years.
Elections would be held transparently and all arrangements have been completed in this regard, said the Central Election Commission Chairman (CEC) Zainiddin Nizamkhojaev during a press briefing on Saturday at Tashkent.
The CEC said that to ensure openness and transparency of the presidential election, international observers and journalists have been given open access to visit polling stations and observe the polling process tomorrow.
He said that there are more than 797 foreign observers and journalists who have been accredited for elections.
The CEC further added that there are four main candidates contesting elections for President of Uzbekistan which include Ulugbek Ilyasovich INOYATOV, Presidential Candidate of the People’s Democratic Party of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Miromonovich Mirziyoyev, Presidential Candidate of the Movement of Entrepreneurs and Businessmen – Liberal Democratic Party of Uzbekistan, Robakhon Anvarovna MAKHMUDOVA, Presidential Candidate of the Social Democratic Party Adolat of Uzbekistan and Abdushukur Khudoykulovich KHAMZAEV Presidential Candidate of the Ecological Party of Uzbekistan.
It is noted that citizens abroad have already voted in their respective diplomatic missions including in Pakistan.
It is pertinent to mention here that the Presidential elections are going to be held on July 9, 2023, more than three years ahead of the originally scheduled date in 2026.