MALAM JABBA - It was a carnival-like situation witnessed here in Malam Jabba on Sunday as kids were enjoying skiing in the snow-packed sloops, their faces were glittered with joy and enjoying every bit of the moment.
An NGO arranged a ski festival in the area and hundreds of kids of different age groups participated in the competition, since the peace return to the area this NGO is organizing this event from the past two years in running with a view to restore Malam Jabba's past glory. This year winter games also include fun and limited adventure attraction for visitors and skiers during snow season. Other sports related activities involved all the genders including men, women and children from different age groups.
The festival includes many other activities like ski competition in which about 25 to 30 skiers took part, to further make the festivity even more enjoyable and attractive, the events like bonfire, balloon busting, ice shot putt and musical shows were also organised. The participants were awarded different gifts and trophies by the organisers, although it was downpour but none of the participants was ready to leave the place and enjoyed every bit of the combination of rain and light snowfall.
It is worth mention here that Pakistan Army had done a marvellous and appreciable work of restoring complete peace and harmony in a very short span of time, where nobody could have even dream of visiting a year before. Tourists must come at least once here to witness themselves, calm and peace has return to the area and the entire Swat Valley is more than suitable place for spending family holidays, as PTDC tourist resorts are functioning in the area and offered best possible facilities to the visitors.
When this scribe asked one of the ski competition participant who came here from all the way from Karachi replied with full energy, "I must admit people tried to scared me by telling horrible stories and even my family tried to stop me from travelling to Swat Valley, but I prefer to visit this part."
He further urged the people to shun all negative thoughts and come and visit this place and find out for themselves, if there is heaven anywhere in the world then it lies in Swat Valley.