All set for paragliding festival in Upper Chitral

CHITRAL: A three-day high altitude paragliding festival will begin in Upper Chitral from October 1.

Paragliders will take off from Zani Pass (4,200 metres) and land in Booni town, the headquarters of Upper Chitral district, situated some 30 kilometres away.

The first-ever event, organised by the district administration, will be participated by paragrliders of national repute.

Upper Chitral deputy commissioner Mohammad Ali said though local amateur paragliders had practiced the sport by flying from the Zani and Terich Aan passes above 4,000 metrrs, no event had so far been organised in the area to exploit its potential.

He said the ridge dividing the Mulkhow and Terich valleys provided an ideal place for paragliding with landing place in Booni town at an altitude of about 3,000 metres was yet another fascinating point.

Mr Ali hoped that the event would help project the area as the paradise of paragliders and would attract paragliders of world fame to this part situated at the foothold of Hindukush mountain range.

The deputy commissioner said the event was being organised without any sponsor, and he was hopeful to make it a success. He said the event would also help promote early winter tourism in the area and local culture as well.–Dawn