Broghul festival will declared mailing stone for development of the area. Maj General Akhtar Salim Rao GOC Army engineering Battalion.
By: Gul Hamaad Farooqi
CHITRAL: Broghul Festival will be mailing stone for development of this backward area where people living still of stone period. The festival attracted a large number of local and non local tourists. Tourism Corporation of Khyber Pahton Khwan in collaboration of Chitral scouts jointly celebrated the colorful event. Major General Akhtar Salim Rao said that this event will be the first step for development of the area. Major items of the festival were yak polo, horse polo (free style), donkey polo, Buz Kashi ( completing of round circle carrying a goat carcass by a man who riding a horse depending the goat who catch it from the opponent rider), horse race, donkey race, yak race, cattle show and exhibition of local handicraft and traditional food.
General Officer Commanding (GOC) Major General Javed Mehmood Bukhari of Malakannd Division was chief guest on the occasion. While GOC Major General Akhtar Salim Rao of 104 Engineering Battalion also attended the colorful event in the scenic valley of Broghul.
Talking to local journalists General Akhtar Salim Rao said that he was very excited when he visited Broghul valley. He said that he really impressed by local games and traditional events like Yak polo which is playing only in this valley. Responding to a question he said that Army Engineering battalion completed this road to post of Chitral Scouts and it will be extended to the last village of the valley.
Local people thanked to Lt Col Sarfaraz Awan wing commander of 146 wing of Chitral Scouts, Pakistan Army , TCKP, Thrive CIADP (Chitral Integrated Area development program) Sarhad Rural Support Program (SRSP) and other Non Government Organizations for supporting the organizing committee for celebrating the event.
Horse polo was played between Broghul and Ishkamon (Gilgit Baltistan) team in which Ishkamon defeated Broghul Team. In yak match Lashkargaz defeated Chikar team, In donkey polo Broghul A team defeated Broghul B team.
Educationist and chairman of PUNAR LSO Sher Wali Khan Aseer demanded from the federal, provincial government as well as international donors for focusing on the valley to bring positive changes in their lives who still passing through the stone period and there is no development in this modern era.
At last the chief guest including Major General Rao, chief executive officer of SRSP distributed prizes among the players. The buz kasha trophy was given to Anwar Baig of Garamchishma (employee of CIADP). Local people said that the event was kicked by the local volunteers but it was banned in Parvez Musharaf regime as a result the area plunged into more backward. There is no source of income nor any natural resources except water and tourism.
A large number of tourists from KPK and Gilgit Baltistan attended the festival and enjoyed the colorful events in paradise like valley of Broghul.
G.H. Farooqi C/O Manager bank Islami Main branch Chitral Pakistan phone No (0092) 0943-320737, 0943-316052, 0943-414418 ,03205989602, 03025989602, 03337069572, 03159698446, 03469002167
email: gulhamad@gmail.com,ghfarooqi@rediffmail.com, gulhamaad786@yahoo.co.uk,ghfarooqi@rediffmail.com
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