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Shandur festival will be held this year, says district nazim

By Zahiruddin

CHITRAL: Shandur festival will be held from 7 to 9th July but in simple manner for which formal preparations will be started by next week, district nazim Maghfirat Shah told local news men here on Wednesday. He said that extra-ordinary arrangements for security will be ensured to avert any saboteur activity during the festival. The nazim said that invitation will be extended to the prime minister by the district government on the concluding ceremony of the festival. He said that there is complete peace and tranquility prevails in Chitral and there is no cogent reason to cancel the annual festival this year which attracts a large number of tourists to the area and expedites business activities in the area. He added that different stake holders of tourism industry have assured their all out support to make the event a success while a meeting of the heads of all the political parties will be convened shortly to enlist their support. Mr. Shah said that holding of the festival was inevitable as it will send positive message about the area to the outer world and it will go a long way to restore the ruined industry of tourism. He said that Chitral is adjacent to Gilgit Agency where tourism industry has not been disturbed and the tourists will be encouraged to come to Chitral through the Gilgit route. Meanwhile, the heads of different components of Aga Khan Development Network in Chitral handed a cheque of 0.2 million rupees to the district nazim in his office here on Wednesday for the IDPs of Swat. The employees of AKDN had contributed their salaries of one day to the IDPs. The district nazim appreciated the ADKN workers for their efforts of helping the people in distress.