SHANDOOR, July 07 (INP): A three-day Shandoor Polo Festival began in district Chitral this morning. Inspector General Frontier Corps Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Major General Rahat Nasim Khan inaugurated the festival.

Speaking on the occasion, he said holding of such a big polo festival in Shandoor Valley is a breakthrough reflecting that peace has been restored in the country.

He said arranging of polo festival was a difficult task but the security forces and district administrations have made it possible.

The IG FC said Pakistanis have tremendous skills which will be utilized for prosperity and development of the country.

He lauded the efforts of Tourism Department Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit Baltistan and district administrations of Chitral for arranging recreational activities in the festival.

At the moment, a polo match is being played between Laspur and Ghizer teams.

Different colorful programmes including Paragliding, foot stalls and traditional dances have also been arranged in the festival.

More than twenty thousand tourists have arrived in the area on the first of the festival to enjoy the traditional polo tournament.

Shandur Polo ground is situated at a highest level 3800m called as the “Roof of the World” and the King Game has been held annually since 1936.

The polo tournament is featured in the first episode of Himalaya with Michael Palin which have always played the game of polo closest to its original form.