By Zahiruddin
CHITRAL; The provincial government has earmarked a large sum of Rs. 120 million for the rehabilitation, extension and repair of eight polo grounds in Upper Chitral and seven in the lower district of Chitral.
The PTI MPA Wazir Zada told the media persons here on Saturday that polo was only the major traditional game of Chitral but it also caused to promote tourism and attract tourists to the area from abroad.
He said that during the former princely state, every major village of Chitral had a polo ground as its integral part but after independence, the successive government did not pay heed to the maintenance and repair of the facilities which led to the retardation of the game over the decades.
Mr. Wazir Zada claimed that it was the PTI government which paid earnest attention to revive the tradition game of polo as part of its endeavors to bring about revolutionary changes in the sector of tourism, has taken a practical step by rehabilitation of the grounds in fifteen different villages across Chitral.
He said that the polo grounds in Chitral city, Drosh, Garam Chashma, Gobor, Susoom, Prayeet and Barenis in lower Chitral while the ones in Reshun, Barum Oveer, Gohkeer, Kosht, Rayeen, Booni, Laspur and Sonoghur have been included in the project of rehabilitation.
He said that in the second phase, more polo grounds will be rehabilitated while polo players will also be strengthened financially so that they could carry on this costly game in which one has to raise a horse or two.
The MPA said that Chitral was being upgraded into one of the major tourist destinations keeping in view its potential while polo was included in its main components as a foreign tourist finds his or her tour incomplete without watching the wild and thrilling type of polo match.
He said that a major even of winter sports was being held in Madak Lusht valley which included skiing and other snow-related folk games in the month of February next year.
