Galiyat spots off-limit for tourists on Eid

Check posts set up on routes leading to hilly areas

ABBOTABAD:

As part of its security plan, the traffic police in Abbottabad district has set up special check posts to block the entry of non-residents to popular tourists destinations.

The impediments have been placed after the provincial government and the district administration announced that tourists spots in the region will remain closed for Eidul Azha.

Abbottabad Traffic SSP Tariq Mehmood, while briefing newsmen at his office on Tuesday, said that as per the provincial government’s strategy to cope with the spread of the novel coronavirus (Covid-19), all tourist spots in the Galiyat valley will remain closed during the eid holidays.

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He further asked visitors not to head towards such tourist destination so that the virus can be prevented from spreading.

“Stay at home and stay safe,” SSP Mehmood said, adding that they require the cooperation of all to fight this disease.

To keep these tourist spots closed, the traffic official said that they have deployed as many as 181 officers at 10 special checkpoints on various routes. Staff, including SSPs, DSPs and two inspectors will be deployed in shifts on these checkpoints.

The check posts have been established on Chamba Bridge, Motorway Interchange, Muslimabad Barrier, Qalandarabad Interchange, Thandiani Chowk, Thai forest barrier, Kali Mitti on Murree Road, Harno Bazaar and Barian Barrier in Galiyat.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 29^th, 2020.