Travel woes: Petrol shortage irks tourists in G-B

Authorities cite less demand as cause of deficiency.

GILGIT:

As tourists flock the scenic Astore Valley in Gilgit-Baltistan (G-B),  shortage of petrol takes away the pleasure of vacations, tourists and locals said on Friday.

“We were out of petrol when we reached Astore, and all the pumps in the area were out of stock,” said Sultan Muhammad, a tourist who returned to Gilgit from Astore, adding that he managed to obtain some petrol at Rs130 per litre.

According to local people, there are only two petrol pumps in the entire valley, where supply from Gilgit is often disturbed due to road blocks and continuous price hike. However, authorities in Gilgit said that the shortage of fuel was due to less demand by pump owners, who determine it on the basis of local consumption.

The Astore Valley, which is famous for its breathtaking beauty, is visited by thousands of tourists every year. However, it remains to one of the most neglected areas in G-B, with people facing several problems. According to unofficial statistics, more than 2,000 tourists are visiting Astore as tourists this summer. The flow of tourists is a contributing factor to the fragile conditions of local people, who are otherwise faced with numerous problems, especially during the winters, when the temperature falls below -20 Celsius.

Ahmad, a resident of Lahore said he had come to Astore with his friends to enjoy the staggering beauty of the region. “The beauty of Deo Sai plains and Rama Lake is simply priceless,” he added.

During Musharraf’s era, the road connecting Gilgit to Astore was metalled. However, the rest of the road network is in deplorable condition, making the journey very dangerous.

Muhammad Akram, a tour guide, said the valley had the potential to become the best tourist destination in the country if the government gave attention to the area. “There are very few hotels in the valley right now. However, if proper infrastructure is developed, the flow of tourists will rise significantly,” he explained. He also said the government should focus on building hotels at different points between Gilgit and Astore to attract more visitors.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 9^th, 2011.