Shandur Polo Festival 2025 opens at world highest ground
PESHAWAR: The historic Shandur Polo Festival 2025 commenced with grandeur at the world's highest polo ground in Shandur, district Chitral Upper on Friday.
The three-day festival is being jointly organized by the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Culture and Tourism Authority, Pakistan Army, and Chitral Scouts.
The opening ceremony was attended by Deputy Speaker Provincial Assembly Suraya Bibi, Advisor to the Chief Minister on Information Barrister Dr. Saif, Secretary Tourism Bakhtiyar Khan, Commissioner Malakand Abid Wazir, and Director General Tourism Habibullah Arif.
A thrilling match between Chitral's Surlaspur team and Ghizer team from Gilgit-Baltistan marked the first day of the festival, with Surlaspur claiming victory by 6-3.
Over the next three days, traditional rival teams from Chitral and Gilgit will engage in a series of exciting and fiercely contested polo matches.
A large number of domestic and foreign tourists have reached Shandur to witness the event.
Speaking on the occasion, KP Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs Syed Fakhar Jehan said that Shandur Polo Festival is not merely a sport event, rather a vibrant cultural celebration that introduces the world to Pakistan's peaceful atmosphere, breathtaking landscapes and rich heritage.
He added that Shandur Polo is a treasured cultural sport played at an altitude of 12,000 feet; attract polo enthusiasts and tourists from around the world.
The minister warmly welcomed the players and visitors to Shandur, stating that such festivals are a message of peace to the world and a reflection of the love Pakistanis have for their culture. Highlighting the significance of the event, the minister said that the annual polo contest between Chitral and Gilgit promotes unity, harmony, and brotherhood between the two regions.
A total of seven teams from each side are participating in the tournament.
He added that under the leadership of Chief Minister Ali Amin Khan Gandapur, efforts are being made to equip sports grounds with modern facilities across the province to foster healthy and positive activities among the youth.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Business Recorder
2 days ago
- Business Recorder
Swat: flash flood sweeps away 18 tourists
PESHAWAR: Eighteen tourists mostly from Daska, are confirmed dead, and three have been rescued, while remaining seven tourists are missing. Assistant Commissioner (AC) Swat Dr Nida Iqbal said the Swat administration had already imposed Section 144 a week ago, keeping in view the incoming flash floods in the river. She said seven tourists lost their lives and their bodies were recovered from the Swat River, while three people have been rescued so far. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Rescue 1122 Director General said 80 personnel are taking part in the rescue operation to locate the remaining individuals. Following the tragic incident, Malakand Division Commissioner Abid Wazir s announced a formal inquiry to determine any negligence. Speaking to the media, the commissioner said that the administration took immediate action after the flash floods in the area. 'Four people were rescued alive on the spot, while eight bodies have been recovered so far. The search for six missing persons is still under way,' he confirmed. He further stated that Section 144 has been in effect in Swat since June 2, and 45 violations have been registered so far. He also revealed that more than 72,000 tourists were unexpectedly stranded and had to be evacuated as the situation has worsened. However, Deputy Commissioner (DC) Swat Shahzad Mehboob emphasised that the local administration had taken preventive measures prior to the incident. 'Warning signs were installed along the Swat River to prevent tourists from approaching dangerous areas,' he said. 'We once again urge all tourists to stay away from the river and follow official guidelines.' Family members of the Swat tragic incident have revealed that the incident occurred suddenly as they were enjoying their morning. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Business Recorder
4 days ago
- Business Recorder
Emirates resumes operations after minimal disruption on 23rd
KARACHI: Emirates, the Dubai-based airline, has successfully navigated its operations through challenging regional events that occurred on June 23, ensuring minimal disruptions to passenger travel plans. Despite rapidly evolving developments, the airline quickly activated its contingency plans, resuming regularly scheduled flights within a few hours. According to Emirates, the airline's robust disruption plans enabled it to manage the situation effectively, with no diversions reported and only a small number of cancellations. Some flights experienced longer flight paths due to airspace congestion, but overall, the airline maintained its commitment to safe and reliable travel. Over the past two weeks, Emirates has demonstrated its ability to adapt to changing circumstances, maintaining scheduled services by rerouting flights to avoid conflict zones. The airline has successfully served over 1.7 million passengers on more than 5,800 flights across its global network, delivering certainty to their travel plans when they needed it most. Emirates took immediate action by suspending flights to areas directly impacted by conflict, while maintaining operations to all other destinations. Services to Amman and Beirut were briefly suspended but resumed quickly, showcasing the airline's agility in responding to evolving situations. The airline prioritised the safety of its passengers and crew, continuously monitoring developments, coordinating with aviation authorities, and assessing potential risks to ensure all flights were safely rerouted away from conflict zones. Emirates also met the most stringent regulatory requirements, upholding its commitment to safe and reliable travel. 'We would never fly if it was not safe to do so,' Emirates emphasised, highlighting the airline's unwavering commitment to safety. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Business Recorder
4 days ago
- Business Recorder
Pakistan to play three T20Is in Bangladesh
LAHORE: Pakistan men's cricket team will travel to Bangladesh next month (July), to take part in a three-match bilateral T20I series, the Bangladesh Cricket Board confirmed on Wednesday. Pakistan will arrive in Dhaka on 16th July before taking on the home side in the first T20I on Sunday (20th July). The second T20I will take place on Tuesday (22nd July), with the third and final match of the series scheduled for Thursday (24th July). All three T20Is will be held at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Dhaka, with the first ball of each match scheduled to be bowled at 6:00pm local time. The two sides last met in a three-match T20I series at the Gaddafi Stadium recently, where the home side completed a clean sweep over the visitors. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
