Pakistan is heading in the right direction in tourism industry as its beautiful landscapes have attracted both the local and international communities. Malakand and Hazara divisions have attracted over 1.6 million tourists during last Eidul Fitr holidays. Approximately,1.2 million tourists including 45,000 had visited Buner, 58,000 by Chitral Lower, 1,25,000 by Dir Upper’s Kumrat, 1,45,000 by Dir Lower, eight lakh by Swat and three lakh by Galiyat. Resultantly, Rs300 million revenue was generated only from Naran, Kaghan and Kurmat valleys.
Following severe heat waves in plains districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and other parts of the country, the tourists have thronged to Nathiagali and Ayubia to spend sometimes in its soothing environment. The hide and seek between the sun and clouds with moderate to erratic rainfalls over the snow-clad Mukeshpuri (9,200 feet) and Miranjani (9,816feet) on western Himalaya hills near Nathiagali in Abbottabad take tourists into a state of ecstasy.
At weekend, Nathiagali and Ayubia are flooded with tourists, trekkers and adventure sports enthusiasts enjoying its breathtaking natural beauty, spectacular landscapes, waterfalls, chairlift ride and colonial era walking trails amid great fun and laughter. Dongagali-Ayubia, Nathiagali-Ayubia and Mukeshpuri Top are the most frequented site of tourists with ride on horses, camels and photography.
However, a visitor could be disappointed to see garbage and polythene bags thrown at open places at these picturesque sites because Kaghan Development Authority (KDA), Wildlife Department and District Administration are responsible to ensure and maintain its cleanliness and make it pollution-free. As per international practice, vehicles are parked outside of the chairlift’s premises to protect its ecology from plastic pollution. The construction of parking areas and installation of dusts bins should be enhanced to protect it from plastic pollution.
Ten more new camping pods would be established at Jarogo Asbshar, Sulatar Swat, Lashkargas Broghal and Surlaspur Shandur Upper Chitral, Kumrat Upper Dir, Kalam, Lilowani and Alpuri Shangla, Samani top Hangu/Orakzai, Larham Top Lower Dir and Bin Shahi Lower Dir. Seven sites in merged districts were identified for campings pods, picnic spots, excess roads and rest areas.
Waterfalls of Lamchar, Sajkot, Noori, Chajjian Haripur, Jarogo Swat, Lanchar Dir and Umbrella Abbottabad would be developed on modern lines to promote ecotourism. Tourist home stay loan project is being launched with an assistance of the Bank of Khyber to financially support local people to build a guest room for tourists’ stay. Theproject would help generate employment opportunities for local population of tourists’ areas. 182 constables of the newly raised tourism police are deployed in Swat, Chitral, Manshera and Abbottabad. The development of four historical colonial era tacks are in pipelines including Thandyani-Nathiagali having 8, 200 feet height, 40km length and 1500 old trees belt, Thandyani-Biringali track, Dagri Bangla-Meera Jani-Nathiagali track and Kaghan- Mahnoor track starting from Shinkyari to Kund Bangla and onward to Shaheed Pani-Nadi Bangla to Musa Ka Musallah. The rest areas will be developed on these tracks besides construction of washrooms and others facilities for tourists. Four integrated tourism zones (ITZs) would be developed at Mankiyal Swat, Thandyani Abbottabad, Ganol Manshera and Madaskhast Lower Chitral to promote sustainable tourism. These ITZs would be constructed with financial assistance of World Bank of USD70 million loan grant and its feasibility studies and master planning in final stages.
