Staff Correspondent
Chitral, June 17, 2026: Concerns have been raised over the performance of the district administration during the recently concluded Shandur Polo Festival 2026, with local residents criticizing what they described as poor planning and inadequate facilities for visitors and participants.
According to well-known social and political figure of Laspur, Suhar Wardi Khan, the administration failed to address community concerns of Laspur residents ahead of the festival, a practice that had traditionally been followed in previous years.
He said that shortcomings in event management led to traffic congestion, sanitation issues, insufficient seating arrangements and a lack of basic public facilities during the three-day festival.
Some residents also referred to reports regarding the deaths of livestock during the event. However, these reports could not be independently verified. Mr Khan said that if the reports are confirmed, the authorities should investigate the matter and determine responsibility.
Mr Khan also expressed regret over the handling of an incident in which a polo horse died during a match and was dragged away from the ground in full view of spectators. He described the incident as unfortunate and called for improved emergency response and animal welfare arrangements at future events.
It may be noted that in the year 2023, Shahzada Sikendarul Mulk, who led the Chitral team at Shandur for over four decades, expressed the fear that in coming years people from Chitral and Gilgit-Baltsitan would stop coming to Shandur to witness the matches.
Criticizing the increasing encroachment of the military and civilian bureaucracy on Shandur, he said they have occupied the whole venue and its surroundings pushing the public to stay away in the name of security.
The only way to keep these bureaucrats away is to stop funding to the festival. He said that if funds are stopped, no one would come here except the people of Chitral and GB who have been celebrating the indigenous festival for decades.
Shahzada Sikendar also regretted that the government spent huge amounts on providing facilities to its bureaucrats every year at Shandur but had no funds to construct the road to the area. Moreover, even polo players taking part in the festival were not provided any substantial financial assistance.
The people of Chitral questioned how, despite substantial annual spending on the internationally known festival, visitors continue to face difficulties related to seating, drinking water, washroom facilities and access to designated areas, including cardholders’ enclosures.
The Shandur Polo Festival, first organized in 1936, is one of Pakistan’s most prominent cultural and sporting events, attracting thousands of spectators from across the country and abroad.
Critics argue that basic infrastructure for local communities and polo players has seen little improvement over the decades.
They pointed out that some of the washrooms constructed during the tenure of late Commandant Colonel Murad of Chitral Scouts are still in use, while no significant additions have been made to public facilities.
Concerns were also raised about the absence of permanent stables and other essential infrastructure for local polo teams, particularly civil teams participating in the festival.
Meanwhile Chitral residents have frequently stated that the festival is closely linked to the livelihoods of thousands of people from Arandu to Laspur through tourism, transport, hospitality and small businesses.
They called on the authorities to disclose the total budget allocated for Shandur Polo Festival 2026 and provide details of expenditures, arguing that transparency and accountability are essential for the future development of the event.