Former world class cricket player and current Pakistani politician Imran Khan was on hand for the inauguration of a new chairlift at Pakistan’s sole ski resort, Malam Jabba, seven years after the Taliban were driven out of the area according to dailytimes.com.
The resort opened in 2000 with help from the Austrian government but was overrun by Taliban in 2007. The Taliban destroyed the original chairlift and the resort’s hotel. Locals Pakistani skiers continued to keep the scene alive, running a basic ski school and even rigging up a makeshift lift system.
Supporters of the ski area raised enough money to finally replace the chairlift and it was inaugurated on September 1st. The new lift is 800 meters long and has a 208 rider capacity (double the capacity of the pervious lift). It was built in 53 days at cost of one billion ruppees or $9.25 million.
To see a video of the newly reopened lift go HERE.
[cover image from dunyanews.tv]