Schoolchildren promised local games, tours

PESHAWAR, APRIL 1: To break years of inaction on account of militancy, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Directorate of Sports on Friday announced to hold traditional regional games in all districts of the province from April 3 to lift up the spirits of people. The announcement came close to another significant decision by the provincial Tourism Department to launch a Youth Tourism Development Project to promote and build baseline for domestic tourism as well as provide an opportunity of extra-curricular activities to the students of government schools. Minister for Sports and Tourism Syed Aqil Shah told a press conference that traditional games to be played in this gala would include Kabaddi, Gulli Danda, Larroo or Pat Patoney, Kowat Kannarry, Kissa Kali Kali, Angay, Gangar, Cheendro or Peeto, Eishtapa, Teeki, Karkhai, Maya or Joora and Katchna Gotey. The games will kick off on April 3 in Haripur district, followed by Lachi (Karak), Kohat, Dera I smail Khan, Mansehra, Bannu, Lakki Marwat, Swabi, Nowshera, Charsadda and Mardan. The closing ceremony of the sports gala will be held in Peshawar on April 13 in a colourful environment, said Mr Shah. The minister observed that the youth, who were traumatised by militancy, needed to be involved in healthy activities.In another significant development, the Tourism Corporation of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in collaboration with a private tour operator will organise tours, excursion trips and summer camps during winter, spring and summer holidays under the Youth Tourism Development project. Sehrai Travel and Tours, run by Zahoor Durrani, will run the project.Giving details, Mr Durrani said that under the project, students of government schools would be encouraged to participate in tours and camping trips, to be facilitated by the corporation. He said that the step was taken in view of lack of such opportunities to the government school students while private school st udents often got such opportunities. The project aims at promoting awareness of tourism among youth and building a baseline for domestic tourism by encouraging tours to the scenic valleys and places situated in this part of the country. He said that Youth Tourism Development project would also help build interpersonal skills and confidence of the school students. Mr Durrani said that in the first phase a youth mela (festival) would be held in Swat valley, which was recovering fast as a tourist destination following militancy and conflict. He said that students would take part in camping exercises and they would be provided tented accommodation at the historic Attock Khurd Railway Heritage and Tourist Resort, Kund National Park, Indus View Point near Hund, Baragali Campus and Kaghan Valley. During these tours and camping activities students would be provided tents, kitchen, bedding, medical helpline and other facilities. Under this project, a lis t of schools lacking excursion opportunities would be prepared and tours would be planned according to their needs encompassing adventure, history, archaeology, fauna and flora, culture, heritage, eco-tourism, trekking/hiking, fishing, and nature study. The management of each school would form touring societies comprising 15-20 students representing class 8th, 9th and 10th. Tours would include destinations within city, other districts and provinces. When contacted, officials of the Tourism Corporation hoped that such programmes would stabilise the domestic tourism and create ownership among the youth regarding their heritage.