Departmental Briefing on Preparations for Shandur Polo Festival 2026 Presented to Minister Syed Adil Shah
Gilgit: A detailed departmental briefing on the preparations for the Shandur Polo Festival 2026 was presented to the Minister for Tourism, Sports & Culture Gilgit-Baltistan, Syed Adil Shah. The briefing was delivered by Additional Secretary Tourism, Sports & Culture, Mr. Abbas Ali, highlighting key administrative, cultural, and tourism-related aspects of the upcoming festival.
During the briefing, it was shared that the Shandur Polo Festival is the flagship cultural and sporting event of Gilgit-Baltistan, held annually at the historic Shandur Pass — the world’s highest polo ground at over 12,000 feet — connecting Gilgit-Baltistan and Chitral. The festival reflects centuries-old freestyle polo traditions symbolizing bravery, horsemanship, and regional harmony. Alongside polo matches, the event features cultural performances, folk music, camping activities, and adventure tourism, significantly contributing to the promotion of sports tourism and preservation of regional heritage.
The department informed that although the festival is traditionally held from July 7 to 9 each year, recent adjustments have been made due to Muharram. For 2026, the department has conveyed its consent to organize the festival from June 11 to 13, 2026.
The departmental briefing covered the complete preparation timeline, including stakeholder consultations, coordination with the Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, constitution of event management committees, budgetary planning, guest management, and mobilization of participating polo teams. The annual Jashn-e-Baharan Polo Tournament was also highlighted as a precursor event for team selection for Shandur.
Officials further briefed the Minister on coordination mechanisms with relevant stakeholders and administrative arrangements within Gilgit-Baltistan, including security deployment, health and veterinary services, electricity and water supply, seating arrangements, cultural shows, and post-event management.
The briefing also highlighted existing gaps and challenges, including management coordination, equitable administrative arrangements, sponsorship opportunities, and matters related to the Shandur boundary issue. Recommendations were presented to strengthen joint management mechanisms and ensure transparent arrangements until a final resolution is achieved.
Minister Syed Adil Shah directed the concerned departments to ensure effective coordination and comprehensive preparations to organize Shandur Polo Festival 2026 in a professional manner, promoting the positive image, culture, and tourism potential of Gilgit-Baltistan at national and international levels.
28 February, 2026
08:17:48 PM
45626
