K-P PA adopts resolution on overcharging by hotels

PESHAWAR:

The provincial assembly of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa on Tuesday unanimously passed a resolution seeking immediate notice of substantial overcharging from tourists by hotelsowners in Murree, Galyat, Northern Areas and other recreation places and sale of edible items on inflated rates.

The resolution said that departments should be directed to take stern action against profiteers and hotel mafia and bind them to run their business in accordance with the relevant laws in future.

The resolution was moved by Inayatullah Khan of Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) with the Speaker Mushtaq Ahmad Ghani in the chair.

The resolution stated that 22 tourists died due to snowfall in Murree which was highlighted on local and international media but unfortunately the hotel owners were charging hefty amount ranging from Rs30,000 to Rs50,000 per room per night from the already stranded tourists and reportedly sold an egg at Rs500 during the critical situation.

It said that the ATMs were not working in the affected areas due to a breakdown in communication system and stranded tourists were forced to give their precious items including jewelry and documents of their vehicle to hotel owners as security. Earlier, Nighat Orakzai of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), Sardar Aurengzeb Nalota of Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) and Inayat Ullah Khan of JI on their points of order strongly condemned substantial increase in rents by hotel managements in Murree during the recent calamity and demanded lodging of FIR against them and judicial inquiry.

The Speaker Mushtaq Ahamd Ghani directed them to bring a joint resolution over the incident. While responding to opposition members, Minister for Higher Education Kamran Khan Bangash said that people should show unity in such critical times and help each other to avoid precious lives. He appreciated the rescue and relief departments including Rescue-1122 and Pakistan Army for rescuing thousands of stranded people in Murree, Galyat and from other tourist spots resorts.

Kamran Bangash while responding to questions raised by opposition over easy availability of drugs and narcotics in society said anti-narcotics force was taking actions against drugs mafia and had established drugs and narcotics control wing in this regard.

He said that awareness sessions are also being conducted at colleges and universities against drugs. Responding to an adjournment motion of Mir Kalam Wazir and Nighat Orakzai over corruption of Rs43 billion in merged districts, Bangash said that it was federal matter and the K-P government had sent three letters to ministry of State and Frontier Region (SAFRON) to share the information with provincial government in this regard.

Parliamentary Leader of Awami National Party (ANP) Sardar Hussain Babak, Nisar Ahmad Mohmand of ANP also spoke on the adjournment motion and demanded of the government to take action and probe the matter.

The House also unanimously passed a resolution moved by Naeema Kishwar of Jamiat Ulemae Islam Fazal (JUI-F), in which the assembly recommended the federal government to provide due share of gas to the province as per the constitution so that the province could meet the demand of gas and overcome the suspension of gas supply to CNG stations. Mufti Obaid Rehman of PTI moved a resolution praising services of Tablighi Jamaat, a religious organisation working across the globe.

The resolution said that the organisation has no link with any terrorist organization. Later, the Speaker Mushtaq Ahmad Ghani adjourned the assembly proceedings till Friday.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 12^th, 2022.