Eid woes: Tourists struggle in Kumrat

Inadequate infrastructure, dilapidated roads disappoint approximately one lakh tourists

DIR UPPER/QUETTA:

Kumrat Valley in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) witnessed tourist woes during Eid due to bad roads and
lack of bridges.

Despite the arrival of approximately one lakh tourists from across the country, the inadequate infrastructure posed significant difficulties for them. Following the 2022 floods in the district, roads were extensively damaged.

Although the federal government approved emergency funds of Rs540 million for road and bridge rehabilitation, no tangible progress was made, forcing tourists to traverse the dilapidated roads to reach Kumrat Valley.

A local resident expressed disappointment, stating that Kumrat Valley has the potential to accommodate a much
larger influx of tourists if the roads were properly maintained.

The absence of a paved road from Dir proper to Kumrat Valley added to the inconvenience. The existing unpaved road, constructed by timber contractors in the 1970s, has also suffered significant damage from last year’s floods.

This situation further restricted access to the valley, as only 4x4 vehicles could navigate the road. Tourists were
compelled to leave their cars or coaches behind in Dir, exacerbating the challenges they faced. Despite the former chief minister inaugurating the Kumrat Road twice, no practical measures were taken to address the issue.

The floods in August 2021 wreaked havoc on the roads leading to Kumrat, Jaz Banda, Shiringal, Dag Darra, and
Ashiri Darra. Large portions of these roads were washed away along the river, severely impacting the tourism
industry.

Disappointed by the lack of infrastructure improvements, the local resident criticized the previous government’s claims of prioritizing the promotion of the tourism industry.

Embezzlement scandal

An extensive investigation into the 2022 flood relief fund in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Dir Upper district has uncovered widespread embezzlement on a significant scale.

The inquiry committee has recommended blacklisting the involved construction firms, recovering Rs360
million, and taking strict departmental actions against the corrupt officials.

The allocated funds, intended for road rehabilitation after the devastating floods, were misused.

Surprisingly, 40 government-approved steel bridges are nowhere to be found. Last year’s floods severely affected the tourism sector in Dir Upper, causing substantial losses. Popular destinations such as Kalkot, Shringal, Tehsil Larjam, and Wari were cut off from the rest of the district due to the
washed-away roads.

The Construction and Works Department of Dir Upper issued tenders worth Rs470 million for 22 projects using the emergency funds. However, it has come to light that substandard materials were used, and many projects remained incomplete.

The inquiry committee, formed by the provincial government, has recommended severe action against the corrupt officials and contractors involved. Imran Saeed Muhammad Zai General Secretary of the PakistanTehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) for Dir Upper, revealed that contractors submitted bills for areas unaffected by the floods and received payment for bridges that were never constructed.

This scandalous revelation demands immediate rectification and accountability for those responsible.