Body formed to oversee tourist sites
PHOTO: FILE
The Punjab government has constituted a committee to chalk out a comprehensive strategy to avoid Murree-like incidents that claimed 23 lives owing to the absence of any rescue and relief mechanism to tackle an emergency or natural calamity.
On the directives of Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar, a three-member committee, comprising Tourism Additional Secretary Sadaf Zafar, General Manager Operations Asim Raza and Project Manager Waqas Malik, was constituted in the wake of the Murree tragedy vide an official notification.
As per the notification, the committee is directed to present its recommendations for redressal of incidents like the Murree tragedy in the next 48 hours besides giving suggestions to control the influx of tourists during peak season.
Punjab Chief Minister’s Special Assistant for Information and Tourism Hasaan Khawar presided over a meeting, on Monday, to review administrative affairs at tourist destinations across the province. The meeting discussed various aspects and factors responsible for the Murree tragedy and decided to devise a comprehensive strategy to avoid any such incident in future.
The committee has been tasked to review the mechanism of hotel registration, rents and other related matters and prepare its recommendations.
A comprehensive report will also be prepared on the law on the prevention of overcharging by hotels and the status of its effective implementation.
Khawar also sought a report from the committee on suggestions and implementation of traffic planning during peak season in Murree. He directed the committee to devise standard operating procedures (SOPs) for working out a mechanism to issue a timely and effective travel advisory for tourists keeping in view the travel warnings forwarded by Meteorological Department.
Speaking to the national television, Khawar said the Punjab government will develop a better system by identifying the flaws in the existing one that resulted in a tragedy that claimed 22 lives in Murree.
He also stressed that there was a dire need to modernise the ‘regulatory structure’ and bring reforms in traffic as well as the Rescue 1122 for better management of emergencies.
Khawar said the government will soon launch an awareness drive to educate people about the route and travel during the snowfall and for a safe drive to tourist spots in winters through media platforms.
Responding to a question, he said that all roads are being cleared and travel advisory for citizens will soon be issued with the consultation of all departments.
He directed the committee to create an effective system to curb the exploitation of tourists through overcharging. He also sought a report from the Tourism Department on all past studies regarding Murree's destination management and its implementation.
The meeting also discussed the progress of the establishment of the Tourism Police Force and Tourism Authority.
Earlier on Sunday, Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar constituted a high-level committee headed by the Additional Chief Secretary (Home) to probe the Murree incident and identify those responsible for negligence. The committee has been directed to submit its report within seven days and propose short-term and long-term recommendations to avoid such incidents in future.
The chief minister has also announced Rs33.5 million financial assistance to the injured as well as heirs of deceased persons who lost their lives in Murree or other rain-related incidents. While extending his heartfelt sympathies to the bereaved heirs, the chief minister maintained that financial assistance could not remediate life. All the sympathies of the Punjab government are with bereaved families; he said and announced that Rs17.6 million aid would be given to heirs of those who lost their lives in Murree.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 11th, 2022.