Proposal to set up Murree Development Authority

Official says new body aims to promote tourism in all three mountainous tehsils

RAWALPINDI:

Commissioner Rawalpindi Division Syed Gulzar Hussain Shah has said to promote tourism in three mountainous tehsils of Rawalpindi district, the proposal to set up Kohsar Murree Development Authority (KMDA) has been submitted to the Punjab chief minister.

He said that lawmakers in these areas, including Latasib Satti, Sadaqat Abbasi, and Raja Saghir, have sent the proposal to the chief minister. He added that all three mountainous tehsils have new tourist destinations that need to be promoted.

MNA Sadaqat Abbasi confirmed that the proposal of KMDA has been formally submitted. He said building codes for timely construction of 123km Tourism Expressway will also be formulated next week.

The commissioner directed the authorities concerned to present by-laws of Kotli Sattian and Kahuta so that the tourism services could be regulated. The authority will work for the development of public sites and tourist spots in Kahuta, Kotli Sattian, and Murree, he added.

All-out efforts would be made to make Murree and surrounding areas an ideal tourist resort, he said, adding that efforts would be made to provide all possible facilities like hotels, motels, recreational areas for children, beautiful clusters and even forest areas to facilitate the tourists.

Read Murree to get new tourist spot

During a meeting held the other day on Kotli Sattian, Murree Authority under the chairmanship of Member National Assembly, Sadaqat Ali Abbasi and Commissioner Rawalpindi Division Syed Gulzar Hussain Shah. Secretary Tourism, Deputy Commissioner Rawalpindi, Director General, Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA), Chairman RDA, Officers from Engineering Department, AC Kotli Sattian and other officers concerned attended the meeting.

Various suggestions for construction of alternative roads to make Murree, Kahuta and Kotli Sattian more attractive and tourist destinations were considered in detail. The meeting also comparatively reviewed Murree Municipal Committee and Kaghan by-laws.

In a briefing, ADC Finance elaborated Kotli Sattian and Murree by-laws and said that strict implementation of the by-laws should be ensured to resolve the traffic, parking and other issues being faced by the tourists.

The cutting of over 20 years old trees must be banned besides ensuring observance of wildlife laws during construction work and strict legal action should be taken against the rules violators, he added.

Abbasi said that Kahuta, Kotli Sattian and Murree building by-laws should be like Kaghan. Section 144 should also be imposed for three months in some areas of Murree to stop private construction work so that the road construction work could be completed on time.

He added Murree is the only tehsil in which there are over 500 hotels and motels. During Eid holidays, nearly 170,000 vehicles entered Murree due to which the tourists faced some problems, including traffic and parking issues. He also stressed on setting up a Murree Development Authority.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 11^th, 2021.