Gilgit: The abrupt decision by the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government to postpone the Shandur Polo Festival at the last minute has stirred significant controversy and disappointment among the stakeholders involved.
A notification from the KP Secretary for Culture, Tourism, and Archaeology Department stated, “It is sincerely regretted to inform the general public that the Shandur Polo Festival, scheduled from June 28th to June 30th, 2024, is hereby postponed due to inclement weather conditions, till further orders in the best public interest.”
This announcement has sparked concern and unrest, particularly among the residents of Gilgit-Baltistan (GB). Many spectators and polo teams had already arrived in Shandur, preparing for the event.
Sources suggest the postponement might also be linked to security concerns following the federal government’s launch of Operation Azm-i-Istehkam, a new counterterrorism campaign.
Shandur, known as the “Roof of the World,” sits at approximately 12,500 feet above sea level and is a disputed territory between GB and KP, with both governments claiming it.
The area is usually uninhabited due to heavy snowfall in winter. In 2012, GB protested KP’s control over the area by recalling its polo team, but in later years, the two governments agreed to jointly organize the festival.
The Shandur Polo Festival, famous for its freestyle mountain polo, attracts numerous spectators and participants annually. The sudden postponement has caused widespread disappointment and frustration.
Habib Ur Rehman, Deputy Commissioner of Ghizer, expressed his extreme disappointment over the unilateral decision. In a letter to the Deputy Commissioner of Upper Chitral, he emphasized that the Shandur Polo Event is a collaborative effort between Ghizer and Upper Chitral districts and their respective provincial governments.
The event symbolizes the region’s cultural heritage and friendship between the districts.
“It is astonishing that the tourism department KP has taken this decision without consultation, despite the fact that Shandur is a historic area of Gilgit-Baltistan.
It is customary for such decisions to be made through mutual consultation and joint signatures,” Rehman stated.
Rehman noted that the G-B government and Ghizer district administration had invested significant resources and efforts in preparing for the event. The postponement would not only waste these resources but also inconvenience thousands of enthusiasts, spectators, and participants.
“The unilateral decision of the KP Tourism department has created unrest and disappointment in the minds of our thousands of enthusiastic spectators and participants and I want to record my protest on behalf of the people of Ghizer District,” Rehman added.
G-B Minister for Tourism Ghulam Muhammad echoed Rehman’s concerns, stating that KP should have consulted them, even if postponement was necessary due to weather conditions.
He emphasized the need to resolve the boundary dispute between KP and GB in the Basha area of Diamer and Shandur in Ghizer. The minister added that the government would formulate a reaction after consultation in a few days.
