PESHAWAR, June 7: The Swat Summer Festival 2013 is going to be held from June 20 for the third consecutive year to attract domestic and foreign tourists to the Swat valley. The festival being held at Kalam will conclude on June 23.

“Last year around 0.5 million tourists attended the festival and this time we are expecting around 20 million tourists,” said Zahid Khan, representing a private professional event organising company.

Mr Khan expected that the event would be better than the previous ones. “Civil administration and the army have promised all out support to make this event a success,” he added.“The summer festival will help us present the true image of Swat and the country as a whole,” said Mr Khan, while giving presentation about the preparations for the festival to the media.

“We want to project true face of Swat and let the world know that it is a peaceful valley,” said Shaukat Yousafzai, provincial general secretary of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaaf, while speaking on the occasion.

The government has allocated Rs20 million for the festival while the military and local administration would provide security and facilitate the tourists, said Mr Yousafzai.

When asked why the army was still in Swat despite restoration of pace in the valley, Mr Yousafzai said withdrawal of army would be phase wise till the local administration was strengthened.

Malakand Commissioner Dr Fakr-i-Alam said the civil and military administrations would provide foolproof security to the tourists. He expected that foreign tourists would also be attending the event.

Besides cultural dances, music and display of the scenic beauty of the valley, the tourists would also enjoy air and water sports which have been organised in partnership with the private sector and different sports clubs.—Bureau Report