Bagh: The third Nanga Peer Tourism Festival, organized by the Alpine Association of Azad Kashmir in celebration of World Tourism Day, has successfully concluded. The festival, known for highlighting the natural beauty of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, drew to a close with a series of events emphasizing peace, remembrance, and community engagement.
According to Kashmir Media Service, the final day featured a peace rally promoting Kashmir tourism, along with a notable hike by local youth to the Nanga Peer Peak. Participants from Bees Bagla, Dinah Than, and the Bees Bagla Alpine Club trekked five kilometers to the summit where they paid tribute to the martyrs of Nanga Peer and unfurled a 200-meter-long Pakistani flag.
The festival’s closing ceremony took place at the Bees Bagla ground, with Sports and Culture Minister Asim Sharif Butt and DG Malik Shaukat Hayat attending as special guests. Raja Nisar Ahmed Shaikh, President of the Alpine Association, presided over the event. In their speeches, both dignitaries praised Shaikh’s organizational efforts and pledged to support the promotion of tourism and youth development in the region.
Further commitments were made during the ceremony, including promises to allocate funds for the Ghanabad Sports Complex and the Bees Bagla Ground, reflecting a strong commitment to local infrastructure development.
The festival, supported by the Azad Kashmir Tourism Department, Police Department, and Special Communication Organisation (SCO), attracted hundreds of tourists, hikers, and social activists from across Pakistan and Azad Kashmir, fulfilling its aim to showcase the region’s scenic landscapes and cultural heritage.