Winter Sports Festival 2020 concludes successfully in Malam Jabba

The colorful Winter Sports Festival-2020 ended on a high note with hundreds of spectators turning up despite heavy snow fall. The young athletes displayed some matchless performances in different events part of the festivity organized by Tourism Corporation of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa jointly with District Administration Swat and Siemens Group.

The players enthusiastically participated in Ice-hockey, Curling, Slalom, giants slalom skiing, skating competitions including snowboarding, snow tubing, alpine ski, U-15 skating, senior skating, snow tubes.

In the final of Alpine Combined Snowboard competitions, Nazim Shah secured first spot while Razaullah finished second and Habibullah got the third position.

Asmat finished first, Ehsan won second spot and Ahmad Ali Shah secured third position in Giant Slalom.

In U-10 category of the giant slalom Ayan got first position, followed by Shafat and Mujahid.

In U-10 girl competition Izra took first position, Zubida second and Ayesha took third.

Mujahid took first in U-14 giant slalom, Mohammad Shahid took second and Hamza third.

The participants also enjoyed the stay in the snow-capped tourist resort in Mala Jabba in Swat Valley.

Commissioner Malakand, Riaz Mehsud was the chief guest on this occasion who also enjoyed the most fascinating Winter Sports event besides some excellent and joyful show of Khattak Dance, Rubab Music, local Attan dance, Bonfire, Archery, and other competitions part of the three-day Winter Sports Festival-2020.

The year-2020 is taken as vital for promotion of tourism potential that have with Pakistan and such like events are a key to portraying a softer image of Pakistan to the rest of the world, Commissioner Malakand Riaz Mehsud said while addressing the participants in different winter sports.

Welcoming the tourists he said:

“We have designated Malakand Division as a year of tourism in 2020, this year several events will be held in Malakand, which will be invited to tourists both domestic and foreign."

Tourist arrivals this year will be double as compared to last year as Kalam Road, Expressway and other roads of the Malakand Division would be constructed with the aim to provide best facilities to the tourists.

With the construction of the relevant roads, the tourists will now be able to come here, taking measures for the best of the tourists so that the tourists can enjoy the trips without any hassle, he said. It is our responsibility to take care of all the tourists who come to Swat, Commissioner Riaz Mehsud added.

He said visit of the local and foreign tourists should play a positive role in promoting tourism besides a source of respectable earning to people of Malakand. 

The tourists and visitors were left mesmerized when skiers showed their skills. Shakir clinched first position in the U-15 ski race, while Barkat stood second and Ismail and Mustaqim got third place in the competitions.

A tourist Farah Ayub, Siemens Group Marketing Manager Samar Sabeen and others hailed the organizers for arranging such a beautiful festival. They said that the skiing and other competitions would hone the skills of the players and they would be able to take part in the international games to bring laurels for the country and nation.

The organizers said that the sports extravaganza was aimed at reviving the scenic places, rehabilitating the archaeological and heritage sites and provision of missing facilities to boost tourism in the province to attract tourists and visitors to the serene spots.

KP has been gifted with abundant natural beauty of lush green valleys, snow-capped mountains, deserts, rivers, landscapes, rich cultural and traditional heritage and history, springs, streams and serene spots.

There are natural springs of cool and sweet water, rhythmic waterfalls, lofty snow-covered mountains, green pastures, valleys and zigzag rivers and streams flowing with fresh water. Because of these attractions, millions of people visit to experience the beauty it has to offer.