The joint team of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police and Charsadda won a thrilling dragon boat race held on the Kabul River during the first-ever Dragon Boat Festival in Pakistan, organized in Peshawar.
The Sports Writers Association secured second place, while the Peshawar High Court team finished third in the competition, which featured over 100 participants from multiple teams.
The event was jointly organized by the Chinese Cultural Centre “China Window” Peshawar and the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Culture and Tourism Authority (KPCTA) to promote cultural exchange, tourism, and Pak-China friendship.
For the first time, the historic Kabul River was transformed with Chinese cultural colors as dragon boats, rhythmic drumbeats, and traditional performances created a festive atmosphere. The festival also featured a Khattak dance performance and a band display by the Federal Constabulary.
Officials said the Dragon Boat Festival, a 2,000-year-old Chinese tradition, aimed to highlight cultural harmony and boost tourism in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Thousands of spectators, including families and youth, gathered along the riverbanks to witness the event.
Special Assistant to the Chief Minister for Culture and Tourism Malik Adeel Iqbal attended as the chief guest and distributed prizes among the winning teams. He said the event showcased a positive image of the province and strengthened Pakistan-China relations.
Organizers from China Window announced plans to hold the festival annually, calling it a milestone in cultural collaboration between the two countries.