PESHAWAR
With the support of the Pakistan Army, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Culture and Tourism Authority has kicked off preparations for the first ever colorful fair Jashan-e-Baharan Festival in merged Orakzai district.
The three-day spring fair Jashan-e-Baharan Orakzai Festival will start from May 12 wherein different types of traditional and non-traditional sports competitions will be organized and hopefully the Jashan-e-Baharan Festival will attract more local and national tourists from all across Pakistan.
Cultural food stalls including cultural stalls of all four provinces will be set up in the festival, spokesman Saad bin Awais told APP here on Sunday. He said tent-pegging, archery, pocket race, cycle race, para-jump, gymnastics, cricket, volleyball and para-gliding competitions will be held in Orakzai Festival.
On the last day, fireworks will also be organized for the tourists. The purpose of organizing the Jashan-e-Baharan Festival in Orakzai is to attract tourists to scenic places of the Orakzai district.
He said through this festivity, the tourists would come and explore the scenic places in Orakzai district. He disclosed that preparations are underway for the smooth conduct of the Jashan-e-Bahran. The KPCTA), in collaboration with the Tourism Wing and the Pakistan Armed Forces has already kicked off their arrangements for the three-day festival in Kharasha-Khwa Stori Khel at Orakzai District.
The aim of this festival is to promote tourism in the province, especially in the merged districts. KPCTA is utilizing all available resources to promote tourism in the adjoining districts of the province, Saad said.
The festival will feature sports competitions such as jeep races, cycle races, cricket, volleyball, paragliding, karate, motorcycle races, tug-of-war, and tent pegging.
The festival will also showcase musical performances, traditional Khattak dance performances, recitals by local poets and a spectacular fireworks display. Muhammad Bakhtiar Khan, Director-General of KPCTA, when contacted, said that Orakzai district is going to welcome tourists. He said many tourist destinations in Orakzai, such as Kalaya, Samana, Gulistan Fort, Feroze Khel, Ziara, Landok, Nanawar Cave, Khalawat, Toi Khala Waterfall, and Spinkai, have been opened for tourists with the aim of promoting tourism in Orakzai.
The DG (KPCTA) said that initiative was taken only to promote tourism in the region but also strengthen employment and the local economy. He added that camping pods would be installed at Samana Orakzai to provide accommodation for tourists and offer them the opportunity to enjoy the beautiful scenery.
During the month of Ramadan, local youth were given regular training in tour guiding and tourism-related workshops to raise awareness about tourism among the people and facilitate tourists visiting the region.
