Security for tourism

With reports of looting and harassing of visitors in the serene valleys


August 12, 2021

At a time when Pakistan’s tourism industry was in full bloom, reports of looting and harassing of visitors in the serene valleys is highly unfortunate. This cannot be ignored even for a moment; and the authorities concerned should deliver results. The repercussions of such incidents will have a devastating impact. It will not only derail the surging momentum for tourism in Pakistan, pave the way for lawlessness in unmanned areas and could lead to a disgusting sense of parochialism countrywide. The government should act rather than merely promising punitive actions.

A close analysis of recently reported incidents of snatching and robbery reveal that they were carried out by stray motorcyclists who interrupted tourists on the way to Swat, Malakand and other adjoining resort areas. This means their limits of movement and hideouts are not far away. Though the government had promptly dismissed a couple of police officers, holding them responsible for negligence, it will not serve the purpose. The entire geography needs to be mopped and stringent action taken. The Pakhtunkhwa has had an encouraging graph of development, and better sense had prevailed; thus this somersault needs to be scrutinised in all seriousness.

Pakistan is the cradle of ancient civilisation, hosts pilgrimage sites for various religions, including Buddhists and Sikhism. It is home to five tallest peaks, the highest trade route in the world through the Karakoram and Silk Road that links it to China, as well as sprawling deserts and seashores. This is no mean potential.

Pakistan reportedly has a potential to attract $40 billion per annum in tourism. At the moment there are less than 300,000 foreign tourists flocking to Pakistan, and that too to the gigantic mountainous ranges in the Northern Areas. Prime Minister Imran Khan is an ardent promoter of it, and nurses the ambition to convert Pakistan’s tranquil north into a heartthrob for local and foreign tourists. But that ambition will take a backseat if local policing and security is not fool-proof. A full-fledged monitoring commission is required to promote and secure tourism. That is the way to open up for the world at large.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 12th, 2021.

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