Snow Festival Brings Swat Valley Resorts Back to Life

Swat Valley is often called

18-year-old Mohammad Ali Shah is nervous. It’s the first time he’s participated in a skiing competition. He’s had polio since he was young and he walks around with the aid of a stick. 

“It took a long time for me to learn how to ski. It’s always risky for people like me to learn skiing. I got injured too, but I have a strong will. I want to be a skier, and now here I am.”

And today he’s replacing his walking stick with skiing poles... 

It’s a kilometer long ski track and he completes his distance successfully. Ali won his first gold medal. For him, winning the medal conveys a bigger message.

 “Only a person who suffers from polio can understand the real effect of polio on your life. I strongly encourage parents to give polio drops to their children. Had I not been polio-stricken, I would have definitely be a different man and a skier. I still have high hopes and ambitions in life. I will achieve my dreams and ambitions.”

Ali says he now wants to take part in an international skiing competition. 

Malam Jabba is Pakistan’s only ski resort, located around 300 kilometers from the capital. It was reopened last year after being bombed by the Taliban in 2008. Over 45 local skiers have entered this year’s skiing competition, with five major ski disciplines. 

42-year-old Umer Zameen has been running a hotel in the area for the last 20 years. He has been looking forward to the snow festival, he hopes it will double his earnings. He still remembers what it was like when the militants destroyed the ski resort and his restaurant.

“The militants destroyed the hotels and all the skiing tracks. We had to work as manual labourers but we were unable to support our families. Now the situation is improving and our hotel business is flourishing too. It was like we were dead before, but now we’re alive because of the business.”

The third day of the festival is dedicated to women... to recognise and appreciate their efforts in bringing back peace to the region. 

There are free lessons for women wanting to learn how to ski. 40-year-old housewife Abida Khan is here with her two daughters. “Most of the tourists come from far-flung areas, and they seem to enjoy every moment. There’s peace in the area so women should visit here too. It’s a difference experience for women.”

At the end of the snow festival, the organisers put on a music concert... for the 200 thousand visitors to the festival this year. The government hopes to boost Swat tourism through skiing, says Syed Imtiaz Husain Shah, the Swat Deputy Commissioner. 

“We’re trying to grab our glory back. The hotels are all booked and the economy is starting up again. Now we only need to develop tourists’ confidence, that Swat is now safe. There’s no law and order situation here. People had been moving out of this area and now they’re coming back. This is what we want.”