CHITRAL: The recently concluded polo tournament finals in Chitral town once again brought into focus two growing realities: the rapid increase in population and the considerable amount of idle time available to many young people in the region.
Although the final match was scheduled to begin at 4:00 p.m., spectators started making their way to the polo ground as early as 11:00 a.m. Under the scorching summer sun, hundreds waited for hours—some fortunate enough to find shade, others exposed to the heat—simply to secure a place from which to watch a polo match that lasted barely forty minutes. Such a long wait for a brief sporting event speaks volumes about the eagerness of the youth to find excitement and recreation in a society where opportunities for entertainment remain limited.
The intensity of the excitement was evident even through the live commentary, with background voices expressing loud reactions whenever a player fell from his horse. The crowd’s enthusiasm reflected not only their passion for the game but also a deep craving for occasions that break the routine of daily life.
There is, of course, nothing wrong with sport. On the contrary, participation in and appreciation of sports are healthy pursuits. Interest in polo is particularly natural in Chitral, where the game has been played and celebrated for centuries and forms an important part of the region’s cultural heritage. What is concerning, however, is the amount of free time many young people appear to have at their disposal, enabling them to spend hours waiting for a short event to begin.
This phenomenon is often noted by visitors from other regions, particularly among the Pathan population, who tend to regard such prolonged waiting for spectator events as an unproductive use of time. Whether or not that perception is entirely fair, it raises an important question about the availability of constructive outlets for Chitral’s youth.
More recreational and cultural opportunities—such as cinema screenings, cultural festivals, music and literary events, and community activities—should be organized on a regular basis to provide healthy avenues for social engagement and self-expression. More importantly, facilities and programmes that encourage active participation in sports, skills development, entrepreneurship, and other productive pursuits should be expanded. A society progresses not merely when its youth watch others perform, but when it equips them with opportunities to participate, create, and contribute themselves. .. CN report, 31 May 2026
6 thoughts on “Beyond the polo ground: Productive engagement for Chitral’s Youth needed.”
Very pertinent points raised. It’s interesting how polo is growing in popularity in Chitral despite being such an expensive and resource heavy sport with very young players also emerging in a large number.
65 teams participated in the current tournament which means at least 300 horses were involved. In these times when people cry about not being able to make both ends meet, such ‘labour of love’ displayed by polo enthusiasts is fit to be a case study. The maintainence and progress of the game of polo in Chitral warrants a meritorious mention of the name of shahzada Sikandar Ul Mulk who dedicated his life to the love of polo and succesfuly promoted the game with his dedication and personal charisma to this day. This shows that when honest efforts are made towards promotion of a goal, it bears fruit. I wish same enthusiasm is shown by teachers to groom the personality of their students and religious preachers to improve the character of people who pray behind them.
The enthusiasm displayed by the youth of Chitral in sports events like the one mentioned above says they have the spirit- there is only some force needed to channelize this energy into productive outcome instead of wasting it into thin air.
Very important points raised- The eagerness of the spectators is positive sign but availability of such long free time for an event of 40 mnts is great concern- Our youth should have opportunities to utilise this available free time in some other healthy activities as rightly pointed out- Our authorities have to provide such opportunities to the youth of Chitral to make them more responsible citizens- Our Love for Polo is everlasting hhha
I do not totally agree with the views in the report. I think it is better for the youth to be interested in healthy sports like polo and football than to spend their time wiith drug abuse or other unhealthy activities. Polo finals come once in many months and only this day such frenzic scene is seen. Other days the spectators are doing what they do. We must keep the fire burning.
This phenomenon is visible throughout Pakistan; however, it is particularly noticeable in Chitral. Despite relatively high literacy rates, rapid population growth has created new social and economic pressures. Nevertheless, social change is a natural process. As a student of sociology, I believe that societies inevitably evolve from simpler forms of organization to more complex ones, bringing both opportunities and challenges. The key issue is how communities adapt to these changes while preserving their positive cultural and social values
Couldn’t agree more. Youth need both activity and entertainment. Since polo is expensive, and investment in other sports scarce, I see lack of use of available resources. The polo ground could occasionally host football matches, open air cinema, handcraft market from various villages of Chitral, especially during tourist season…
Just a few ideas.