PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Tourism Authority on Tuesday announced the beginning of a popular cultural festival in Pakistan’s northwestern Chitral region, saying the event had attracted large numbers of foreign and local tourists like in the past.

The Chilm Josht festival is celebrated by the Kalash people, who are often described as pagan due to their religious beliefs and practices involving the worship of multiple gods and spirits, to mark the arrival of spring and celebrate the bounty of nature.

Known for music, dance, and colorful clothes, the festival is also associated with the preparation for new crops, symbolizing hope and prosperity for the community.

“The ancient Kalash festival ‘Chilm Josht’ has kicked off in full swing,” the KP tourism authority said in a statement. “Young women of Kalash danced to the beat of drums while wearing intricately embroidered garments, enhancing the colors of the festival.”

The statement added that district administration officials, members of the Kalash Development Authority and a large number of domestic and foreign tourists were also attending the festivity.

“The district administration has arranged foolproof security for the festival,” it added. “Tourism police are also providing services for the guidance of tourists.”

Chilm Josht is said to be the oldest festival of the Kalash tribe. It involves various rituals, the most well-known being the one where people dance with walnut branches in hand.

The festival will last for three days in the area known for its rugged terrain and scenic beauty. The annual event is considered integral to the identity of the indigenous Kalash community and the continuity of its ancient traditions.
 

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and China are pushing to sustain the momentum of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) as the project enters its second phase, the foreign office said on Wednesday, with the Pakistani deputy prime minister on a visit to Beijing to discuss enhancing trade, including through a major border crossing and a simplified visa regime. 

The multibillion-dollar CPEC initiative in which Beijing has pledged to invest $65 billion in Pakistan spans several phases, each with distinct goals and impacts on the region. The first phase began in 2015 and mainly focused on building critical infrastructure, particularly in the transportation and energy sectors.

The second phase expands the focus to include industrial cooperation, agricultural development and the promotion of social and economic development. This phase is also expected to include the development of Special Economic Zones (SEZs), efforts to boost green energy production like hydropower and solar energy and initiatives aimed at modernizing agriculture and increasing exports.

According to an official statement, Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar discussed issues related to bilateral trade and connectivity in a meeting with Chinese Executive Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang during his ongoing visit to Beijing.

“The two leaders held in-depth discussion on the various aspects of bilateral relations including China Pakistan Economic Corridor (Phase-II), trade, economic cooperation and investment,” the foreign office said in a statement. 

“Connectivity through Khunjerab border crossing and a simplified visa regime were also discussed. They agreed to sustain the growing momentum of Pakistan-China relations in all areas of cooperation and to further deepen iron-clad Pakistan-China friendship.”

“Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Dar noted the progress made by CPEC in energy and infrastructure and expressed the confidence at the positive dividends under Phase-II in the fields of industry, agriculture and mineral development,” the statement added.

The foreign office said Dar also expressed condolences with the Chinese official over a March 26 suicide bombing that killed five Chinese workers and their Pakistani driver while they were on their way to the Dasu hydropower project in Pakistan’s northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. 

The Chinese vice premier expressed his country’s full support to Pakistan in all areas, including the economy, trade and investment and reaffirmed the importance of fast-tracking the implementation of CPEC projects.