PESHAWAR: The two-day Elum Winter Festival, organized by the Pakistan Army and Frontier Corps North, concluded here in Buner on Sunday.
The Pakistan Army and Frontier Corps North organized the two-day Elum Winter Festival to celebrate the restoration of peace to once-troubled regions. The festival marked a decade since the areas, once plagued by terrorist activities, transformed into havens of happiness and witnessed a flourishing tourism industry in Swat and Malakand.
A notable first for Buner, the winter festival attracted 110 bikes and 60 jeeps from across Pakistan, participating in a Jeep and Bike Rally. The rally, commencing from Punjab and traversing through Mardan, received a warm welcome upon reaching Buner.
Corps Commander Peshawar Lt Gen Sardar Hassan Azhar Hayat Khan graced the closing ceremony as the chief guest. The festival featured spectacular performances, including paragliding demonstrations that garnered applause from the enthusiastic crowd. Frontier Corps’ Martial Dance Party added cultural vibrancy with a captivating Khatak Dance.
At the conclusion, Lt-Gen Sardar Hassan Azhar Hayat Khan distributed certificates, shields, and trophies among the participants, who expressed gratitude to the Pakistan Army for organizing the event. A female tourist marveled at the area’s newfound peace, crediting the Pakistan Army for the tranquility. Local Sikh citizens joined in the celebration, shedding tears of joy at the remarkable event in Buner.
