Yearning for better times...All set to hold Swat Summer Festival.... MINGORA: The civil and military officials in Swat Saturday said the arrangements had been finalised for the four-day Swat Summer Festival starting from June 20. Addressing a press conference in Saidu Sharif, Malakand division Commissioner Dr Fakhar Alam said the summer festival organised jointly by the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government and the security forces will be held as planned. Officials of the security forces were also present on the occasion. He said the event had been planned to promote tourism and income generating activities in Swat. He added that due to rise of water level in River Swat, certain bridges and parts of Kalam-Mingora Road were affected, but the traffic on the road had been restored. The official added that a part of the Ayub Bridge will be restored within few days. However, he said the commuters could use the alternate route through Shamozai and Barikot to reach upper Swat. He said that 50 families affected due to flood in Utror village of Kalam had been provided food items. The commissioner said that water level in River Swat increased due to melting of snow in the mountains. However, he added that the flood in the river subsided as the weather had turned cool in the mountainous areas due to the rain. Meanwhile, a spokesman for the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Colonel Zeeshan termed the flood devastation reports as rumours, adding that no house or hotels were vacated on the army’s order. He said the bridge in Matta would be opened for traffic on June 18. He said they had also built a separate road inside Kalam to facilitate the tourists.
Posted on: Sun, 16 Jun 2013 04:06:03 +0000