CHITRAL: The three-day Polo Festival started here in Shandur, the highest polo ground of the world, with a thrilling match between Laspur of Chitral and Ghizar of Gilgit-Baltistan.

Governor Faisal Karim Kundi formally inaugurated the festival by throwing the ball into the centre of the ground. More than 10,000 polo fans have ascended to the altitude of 12,500 feet where tent village has been set up along the two-kilometre long natural lake.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr Kundi said that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was a peaceful province and its people were peace-loving, who always sent a positive image of the area while Shandur festival was an ample proof of it.

He said investment would be welcomed in the province, especially in tourism sector. He said that provincial and federal governments showed that they were on the same page regarding many issues, which they evinced in the case of wheat and CNG.

Mr Kundi said that connectivity was the main hurdle to promoting tourism in the area as the NHA-managed roads were in shambles due to unsatisfactory work.

The special assistant to chief minister for sports, Malik Adil Iqbal, also addressed the ceremony and said that Shandur festival attracted the attention of the world while each tourist acted as the ambassador of the area. He claimed that provincial government was promoting tourism industry.

In the first two matches of the festival, Chitral team bet GB while the third match was won by the GB team.

Young Kalash men and women enthralled polo fans by their traditional dance. The event is being sponsored by KP Tourism and Cultural Authority.

Published in Dawn, June 12th, 2026