PESHAWAR: In a thrilling boat race held on the waters of the Kabul River as part of the Chinese Dragon Boat Festival, the joint team of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Police and Charsadda clinched victory. The Sports Writers Association team secured second position, while the Peshawar High Court team finished third.
For the first time, the historic river was adorned with the vibrant colours of Chinese culture as the Dragon Boat Festival beautifully blended sports, heritage, and the deep-rooted friendship between Pakistan and China on a single platform. More than a hundred boatmen, divided into various teams, participated in the races.
The Chinese Cultural Centre “China Window” Peshawar and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Culture and Tourism Authority (KPCTA) jointly organised the Dragon Boat Festival along the banks of the Kabul River, the first event of its kind in Pakistan’s history. The Chinese festival is more than 2,000 years old and the main purpose of organizing it was to promote local tourism as well as create awareness among the locals about the Chinese culture.
Special Assistant to the Chief Minister for Culture and Tourism, Malik Adeel Iqbal, attended the event as the chief guest. Provincial ministers Fazl Shakoor and Akhtarullah Jan, members of the provincial assembly, Deputy Commissioner Charsadda Azmatullah Wazir, Additional Deputy Commissioner Rescue 1122 Miss Reena Abbasi, Director Culture and Tourism Miss Halima Iqbal, and thousands of spectators witnessed the historic occasion.
The district administration made excellent arrangements for security and the safety of participants. The Federal Constabulary band filled the air with melodious tunes of Pak-China friendship, while FC personnel enthralled the crowd with a spectacular Khattak dance performance, adding to the festive atmosphere. The colourful dragon boats, rhythmic beat of drums, and enthusiastic slogans of the rowers kept the spectators captivated throughout the event.
More than a hundred boatmen, divided into various teams, participated in the races. Their high-speed manoeuvres and excellent teamwork provided great entertainment for the audience. A notable highlight of the festival was the enthusiastic participation of women rowers, the first time such a large number of women took part in a boat race in the region.
Chinese guests, including Xiao Fei, founder of the Star Village (charity foundation) and Maxma, founder of Uni International (Vocational training organisation for Pakistani youth) and others, who attended the festival were warmly received and appreciated by the audience. Large crowds of citizens, youth, and families gathered along the banks of the Kabul River to witness the spectacle.
At the conclusion of the event, Malik Adeel Iqbal distributed trophies, medals, and cash prizes among the winning teams. Speaking on the occasion, Iqbal said that China Window Peshawar has become a remarkable symbol of Pak-China friendship in K-P. “The holding of the Dragon Boat Festival on the Kabul River has not only projected the soft image of the province before China and the world, but will also boost tourism in the future,” he added.
He congratulated the organisers of China Window on the successful holding of the festival to mark the 75th anniversary of Pak-China friendship and expressed confidence that the event would be organised regularly every year. Administrator of China Window, Amjad Aziz Malik, said the Dragon Boat Festival had successfully introduced China’s ancient cultural tradition to Pakistan while bringing the people of both countries even closer. He announced plans to hold the festival regularly in the coming years and praised the district administration for its excellent arrangements.
