Ski competition brings normalcy back to beautiful Swat

Society Pakistan & World Affairs
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Ski competition brings normalcy back to beautiful Swat

Agencies
Yesterday

http://www.dawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/malam543ap.jpg

“We have organised this event to let the world know that the situation has come back to normal with peace prevailing in Swat. Swat is no longer off-limits,” said president of the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Ski Association Mateeullah Khan. -Photo by AP (file)

ISLAMABAD: The spectacular week-long skiing competition held at the picturesque Malam Jabba Ski resort marked the revival of tourism in the scenic valley of Swat that was once termed the ‘Switzerland of Pakistan’ but fell into the hands of militants, thus damaging its trade and travel activity for a couple of years.

Swat’s Pioneer Skiing School, Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) and the Provincial Relief, Rehabilitation and Settlement Authority (Parrsa) jointly organized the Peace Ski Gala 2011, which concluded today.
Eight teams, including Swat Red Club, Swat Green Club, Swat Tiger Club, Malakand Division Club, Hazara Division Club, Swat Blue Club, and Swat Shaheen Club participated in the event which was attended by hundreds of skiing enthusiasts.

The event organizers hoped the successful completion of the gala would once again bring the focus back on Swat as it dusts its self off and looks ahead to a future without the bombings and the threat of militancy.

“We have organised this event to let the world know that the situation has come back to normal with peace prevailing in Swat. Swat is no longer off-limits,” said president of the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Ski Association Mateeullah Khan.

The Malam Jabba resort, which was captured by militants in 2006 and later destroyed, has now been rebuilt by the Pakistan army and is fully operational. But the damaged chairlifts, installed by the Austrian government in 1988, are yet to be fixed and caused some discomfort to participants.

“I feel very good but it is very hard this time. There is no chairlift to take up the players or hotel to accommodate participants,” Zafar Ali Shah, who won a gold medal in Piece Downhill Senior, told Central Asia Online.

But all in all, it seemed locals and foreigners alike were pleased to see the steady stream of activity that the gala brought to the tourism hub of Pakistan.

Tourism constitutes a significant source of income for Swat and its residents. Prior to activities being interrupted by militancy, Swat and its environs attracted a good number of visitors from across the world as well as other parts of Pakistan. The area was in particular favoured by trekkers and mountaineers.

feel good news and hope peace prevails in the whole region :k: a slap in the face of militants
http://www.dawn.com/2011/01/30/ski-competition-brings-normalcy-back-to-beautiful-swat.html

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Re: Ski competition brings normalcy back to beautiful Swat

an excellent feel good news. Thanks Nisha :k:

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Re: Ski competition brings normalcy back to beautiful Swat

TLK bhai, It’s not a fight inducing topic though, just good news, the thread won’t attract much attention :hehe:

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Re: Ski competition brings normalcy back to beautiful Swat

Hey this is brilliant thread....

And if people cant see good news then they need some medical help :ASA:

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Re: Ski competition brings normalcy back to beautiful Swat

Good to see that, hope normalcy prevails in rest of the country too :k:

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Re: Ski competition brings normalcy back to beautiful Swat

and other parts of south asia too that might have militancy problems, i hope

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Re: Ski competition brings normalcy back to beautiful Swat

Only a year ago this area was no go for anyone except terrorists. Good to see things are getting back to normal. :)

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Re: Ski competition brings normalcy back to beautiful Swat

I think the credit goes to the current, PPP govt for tackling the issue, although it was army who finally drove the militants out of the valley, which Shami2k rightly said was a no-go area...

good to hear positive news about Pakistan, things are going back to normal, atleast that is what this article highlights

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Re: Ski competition brings normalcy back to beautiful Swat

good one...

still i dont see any actions from our civil govt. these skiing associations are doing this with the help of Pakistan Air Force. The PAF has a skiing resort and training school there... some efforts needed from our political govt, armed forces have done their job... currently they are filling the gap (which is there because of absence of civil govt) by different events, i can recall 4 of them, last year they had one huge 1 week event in Swat just 2 days before the recent floods, then they had two "group marriages" one last year and one this year, then this... and govt is absent from scene

but overall its a good thing, tourists will INSHA ALLAH start visiting Swat again, and thousands of people who lost their earnings linked to tourism will INSHA ALLAH be back into business

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Re: Ski competition brings normalcy back to beautiful Swat

Good Job Done, Kudo's to Gov. of Pakistan and all the respective ministries.

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Re: Ski competition brings normalcy back to beautiful Swat

That is great to hear!! :k:

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Re: Ski competition brings normalcy back to beautiful Swat

Ah Swat- the land of malam jaba, and beautiful lakes, of trout fish and gemstones and wonderful people!

I am glad normalcy is returning to the valley. May it continues to improve and grow like this.

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Re: Ski competition brings normalcy back to beautiful Swat

It's a beautiful place.. great news the resort is functional again.