Development in Murree

Murree hill station -- the prime minister’s favourite summer spot -- is facing several problems due to official neglect. The city needs the special attention of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) because its tourist attractions lie in areas where the party has a stronghold.

Pakistan, on the whole, has failed to protect its tourist spots across the country. Murree, in particular, boasts not just of beautiful recreational sites but also of historical buildings which date back to the colonial era. Among other problems, residents face poor health facilities, education, water and other issues.

For locals and tourists, there is perhaps no greater problem than that of water. The provincial government has failed to start any mega projects to overcome the issue. Locals continue to rely on spring water and have to travel long distances to fetch it.

Murree’s water needs are increasing with each passing day. The provincial government is currently supplying just 0.5 million gallons per day against the demand of 2.4 million gallons. The city’s population has increased significantly over the years in addition to the regular flow of tourists. According to a government official, an estimated 500,000 people visit Murree every summer. To cater to the needs of residents, the Murree Bulk water project was initiated in 2006 at a cost of Rs1.975 billion but work on the project is yet to start.

Similarly, public health facilities remain inaccessible to the residents as only two public hospitals are currently functional in the Murree Tehsil. Residents of far-flung areas face difficulties in getting access to them due to poor infrastructure linking the main city with villages.

A 150-bed hospital, four kilometres away from Murree, was initiated by the Pakistan Muslim League government in 2006 and later again inaugurated by Shahbaz Sharif in June 2009. But eight years on, the project has yet to be started.

The government should also focus on the education sector of the city because there are still four boys and girls colleges established back in the 1990s. This is the best time for the PML-N to invest on the young generation of Murree so they contribute to the country’s development. The government should focus on projects that will help develop Murree.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 12^th, 2014.