UPPER DIR: Three-day horse race competition, the first such activity in Upper Dir district, concluded in the scenic tourist spot of Jaz Banda, located at an altitude of about 10,000 feet above the sea level.

Local music and folk dance was also presented at the prize distribution ceremony which doubled the pleasure of tourists and local spectators.

Sarhad Rural Support Programme, an NGO, organised the event. Tourists from Karachi, Mardan, Peshawar, Lower Dir and other areas also came to enjoy the horse race competition.

A tourist from Karachi, Raufi, said that he was visiting Jaz Banda along with his family and they reached here after five hours of walk, adding that they were feeling very tired.

He, however, said that after reaching Jaz Banda and watching its natural beauty they forgot their pain and tiredness. He said that they had enjoyed the eye-catching scenes of Jaz Banda.

A woman tourist standing nearby said that more tourists would come if the government constructed road to Jaz Banda.

The local people expressed their happiness over organising a horse race competition and said that they were used to riding horses in Jaz Banda, but it was amazing to take part in a competition.

Jehanzab, the winner of the competition, said that he was happy to win the race in front of a large number of spectators.

SRSP’s representative Fayyaz Ahmad said at the concluding ceremony that the aim of the horse race competition was to provide entertainment to the tourists and local people.

STUDENT KILLED: One student was killed and five others were injured when their car fell into a deep ravine at Kotkai near Dir Khas, on Friday.

Police said that the students were going for a picnic after school. They said that when their car reached Kotkai the driver lost its control and it fell into a ravine. As a result, Badshahuddin, a student of high school in Dir and resident of Dir Khas, died on the spot. Five other students identified as Zar Shad, Ansar, Sohail, Mohsin and Bilal Badshah were injured in the incident. They were taken to the DHQ hospital in Dir.

Published in Dawn September 10th, 2016

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