Tourism police, staff to remain on duty during Eid
Advisor to Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister on Tourism, Culture, Archaeology and Museums Zahid Chanzeb has cancelled the holidays of tourism police officers and the staff posted in tourist areas in view of Eidul Fitr and has directed that the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Culture and Tourism Authority (KPCTA), Tourism Facilitation Centres (TFCs) and the Tourism Police would ensure the provision of all possible facilities to tourists.
He issued the instructions while presiding over a meeting held regarding tourism arrangements during Eid holidays. Tourism and Culture Department Secretary Mohammad Bakhtiar Khan, KPCTA DG Barkatullah Marwat and other senior officers were present on the occasion.
Zahid Chanzeb clarified that, as per the instructions of Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, the provincial government would provide all possible facilities to tourists during Eid.
He said tourists would be able to visit the serene places of the province without fear, that all the regional tourism authorities had been instructed to ensure the provision of facilities for tourists, and that Tourism Police and Rescue 1122 officials would be on duty all the time to keep traffic flowing smoothly at tourist spots.
Hence, he said, tourists could plan their tours and get route information by contacting Tourism Helpline 1422 before their trips. He added that the helpline was active 24 hours and that tourists could seek help on it even for their road travel needs.
Similarly, he said, all the TFCs of KPCTA, including Chitral, Kaghan, Nathiagali, Abbottabad and Dir, would remain open for tourists while Inspectors of the Tourist Services Wing (TSW) would keep a check on the fares and quality of hotels. There would also be washrooms, potable water and rest areas on the routes to tourism sites at proper intervals.
It had also been decided to run a train safari from Peshawar to Takht Bhai on Saturday, April 13 on the occasion of Eid for tourists, Zahid Chanzeb said.
The Advisor Tourism further said the helpline would be operational and guidance sign boards displayed at tourist spots before Eid while all tourism authorities would set up control rooms in their offices so that tourists travelling during the Eid holidays could contact them if they faced any difficulties.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 10th, 2024.