KARACHI:
I am a student of media and development communication, and as someone who follows how our tourism sector is reported, I am writing to express my concern over the continuing lack of regulatory oversight in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s booming adventure tourism industry.
Over the past several weeks alone, the region has witnessed repeated tragedies: a boat capsized at Saifullah Lake in Kalam, Swat, killing seven members of one family; and a passenger bus fell into a ravine in Dana Sar, killing 40 people. In response, the Swat administration shut down several ziplines operating without mandatory NOCs at popular sites, and the provincial Tourism Authority launched a safety awareness campaign advising visitors to avoid rivers and hazardous locations. Yet residents and tourism stakeholders have pointed out that after last year’s deadly Swat River tragedy, similar official assurances failed to translate into lasting reforms on the ground.
Awareness pamphlets and after-the-fact crackdowns are not a substitute for a standing, enforced licensing system for boats, ziplines and other adventure activities, with regular safety inspections and mandatory operator training. I would urge the relevant authorities to make such regulation permanent and proactive rather than reactive, so tourists are protected before accidents happen, not after. As the tourist season continues, this matter needs urgent attention.
Shareena Abdul Rehman
Lahore
