Murree gears up for tourists’ influx

Given the upcoming snow season – from December 1, 2023, to March 1, 2024 – tourist facilitation centres have been activated at five different locations in Malika-e-Kohsar, Murree, to ensure the safety and guidance of the tourists visiting the popular hill resort.

According to sources, the central control room of all the tourist facilitation centres will be in Jinnah Hall, GPO Chowk Facilitation Centre. Each facilitation centre will have one officer from the traffic police, police station, civil defence, IESCO, cantonment board, municipal corporation, Punjab highways, tourism and meteorological department.

These centres have been put on 24-hour shift duty from Monday, November 27. A maximum of 18,000 vehicles will be allowed to enter Murree on the occasion of snowfall. The facilitation centres have been established at GPO Chowk, Guldna, Lower Topa, Jhika Gali and Changla Gali.

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Special picket points have also been set up in Murree on the entry routes from Rawalpindi, Islamabad, Kotli Sattian, Azad Kashmir and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. At these pickets, there will be computerised counting of vehicles entering Murree and after the entry of 18,000 vehicles, no more vehicles will be allowed to enter the hill resort.

Talking to The Express Tribune, District Officer Civil Defence Talib Hussain said full emergency will be in effect for three months of December, January and February for Murree snowfall season.

“All tourists coming with families should bring warm clothes, blankets, water bottles, food items, and small cylinder gas stove with them,” he said, adding that the vehicles entering Murree should have adequate quantity of fuel.

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He said 35 uniformed personnel of civil defence have been posted in Murree. “Of these 15 officials, armed with sticks, will be deputed in Murree markets and parking areas. They will also have stun guns along with walkie-talkies,” he explained. “These officials will protect the tourists in time of need. Brawling, aerial firing, carrying and brandishing weapons are prohibited during this season,” he said and warned that those flouting these rules shall face arrests and registration of cases.

Hussain said official rates of tea, coffee and coffee sold in the markets have been fixed and overcharging will not be allowed under any circumstances.

“The price magistrates will check the rates from 9am to 1pm. All the hotels have been categorised and their rents have been fixed and overcharging will not be allowed even in hotels,” he claimed.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 28^th, 2023.