Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi has said the time has come for peace, prosperity and development in the province instead of carrying coffins, after years of terrorism and unrest in which its people made great sacrifices.

Kundi was speaking on Sunday at the closing and prize distribution ceremony of the second Pakistan Tourism, Sports and Family Festival 2026 at the Pakistan Sports Complex in Islamabad. Addressing the ceremony, he said the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa had endured years of terrorism and unrest and now deserved a peaceful and bright future.

"We have carried coffins, but now the time for carrying coffins is over. Now is the time for prosperity, development, peace and a bright future in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa," he said.

The governor said the youth of the province had great talent, energy and skills and could play an important role in the development of both Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the country. He regretted that in the past young people had been pushed towards sit-ins and protest politics instead of being encouraged to take part in positive and healthy activities, and said the priority should be to give them opportunities to use their skills and abilities for a better future.

He said the energy, creativity and professional skills of young people could help strengthen the economy and bring social and economic progress, and stressed the need to provide more opportunities to the youth of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in sports, tourism and other fields so they could prove their abilities.

Kundi said tourism, sports, cultural and family festivals should also be organised in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to promote its culture, natural beauty and tourism potential. He asked Sardar Yasir Ilyas Khan, adviser to the prime minister on tourism and national coordinator, who is also chief executive of the Centaurus Group, to organise similar festivals in the province in future.

He said Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was known for its hospitality, culture, natural beauty and traditions, and had great potential for tourism and economic activity. Such festivals, he said, could help present a positive image of the province, attract tourists and give young people opportunities to take part in sports and cultural activities.

The governor appreciated the organisers for holding the festival, saying such events played an important role in promoting Pakistan's tourism potential, cultural diversity and national unity. He said bringing young people together through healthy activities would help them develop their skills and contribute to the country's progress, and assured that every possible support and encouragement would be provided to the youth of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

On the occasion, Kundi distributed awards, shields and appreciation certificates among organisers, participants and individuals who made important contributions to the festival. Sardar Yasir Ilyas Khan attended the ceremony along with other dignitaries, organisers and people from different walks of life.

The three-day festival, organised by the Ministry of Inter-Provincial Coordination with the Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation as the lead implementing agency, opened at the Islamabad Sports Complex on Friday, November 6, and ran until Sunday, November 8. It featured cultural stalls from all provinces, traditional cuisine, handicrafts, musical evenings, fireworks and sports competitions, and was inaugurated by Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal. Organisers had hoped around 150,000 people would visit the event over its three days.