PESHAWAR, June 17: A sports festival involving youth from all across Malakand Division and seven different regions of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, will start in Swat on Saturday.

The 'Spirit of Swat Sports Festival' will be commencing with a men's hockey event at Makkan Bagha area of Swat amid tight security.

A total of 12 teams each will take part in 15 disciplines including hockey, volleyball, football, basketball, cricket, badminton, bodybuilding, tug-of-war, kabaddi, cycling, boxing, and four female games including table tennis, volleyball, badminton and netball. The games will conclude on July 18.

Director General Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Sport Board Engineer Khanzeb Khan on the occasion lauded PaRRSA and said that Project Manager Shakeel Iqbal presented a cheque of Rs5 million for organising the sports events besides spending Rs30 million more on other activities that would be part of the 'Spirit of Swat Festival' including a musical night, fireworks and other entertainment programmes for the people of Swat and visitors.

The basic aim of the festival is to bring back the local and foreign tourists to Swat, also known as the 'Switzerland of Pakistan'. Engineer Khanzeb Khan said that the revival of tourism in Swat valley would help restore business activity in the area.— APP