World Snow Day was celebrated for the first time at PAF base ski slope, Kalabagh, on Sunday, on the instructions of Vice Chief Air Staff, Air Marshal Sohail Gul Khan, who is also the President of the Ski Federation of Pakistan (SFP).
According to a press statement issued by Pakistan Air Force (PAF) on Sunday, the celebrations started with a snowman competition; it was followed by national songs, snow walk, snow running and slope skiing. A large number of students from local, as well as national level, schools participated in the event.
The aim of the event was to attract people to join and participate in winter sports. PAF has planned to train aspirants from all over the country to come and participate in winter sports, whereas training and necessary ski equipment is provided free of cost to all participants.
At present, SFP has 18 ski association members, which includes Gilgit-Baltistan and GB Scouts. PAF has envisaged a new plan to promote skiing, and plans to develop the area by installing a ski chairlift (1.5 Km long) at Naltar. This new chair lift will make Naltar a unique sports arena.
PAF has been the pioneer of skiing in Pakistan, which was initially introduced at Naltar in 1962 as an essential part of snow survival training for its aircrew. With the passage of time, this facility was also extended to locals and civilians to help promote skiing as a sport in Pakistan.
The establishment of SFP in 1991, under the aegis of PAF, brought this area into limelight. SFP started to conduct various national level ski competitions and championships during every snow season.
Skiers from all over the country visit Naltar to participate in these competitions. However, the local population of this far-flung area is the biggest beneficiary of these facilitates. Participation of Abbas and Karim (both from Naltar) in the last two winter Olympics, respectively, says a lot about the achievements that have been made possible because of the program. At the end of the event, base commander PAF base, Kalabagh, awarded prizes to winners of each competition.
