The three-day Shyok Fesitval kicked off in Ghanche district on Sunday, one of many events that the will mark a winter celebration in Gilgit Baltistan this year.

As the mountians in the north of Pakistan become covered by snow, the government has gone the extra mile to encourage tourism through a winter celebration.

The Shyok festival will precede a first of its kind seven-day festival in Upper Hunza, that the government hopes will attract visitors from all over in Pakistan.

Canadian High Commissioner Leslie Scanlon was the chief guest on the first day of the event, as an energetic crowd made of locals and foreigners cheered on the ice hockey match.