Snowfall season to start in Murree from Dec 15

With the arrival of winter, the snowfall season in Murree has been officially announced, spanning from December 15, 2024, to March 15, 2025. During this period, a "rain and snow emergency" will be enforced in Murree.

The tourist season is set to begin on December 24, coinciding with the start of winter vacations. Rawalpindi Commissioner Aamir Khattak has directed the completion of all safety and security arrangements in Murree by December 10, ahead of the rainy and snowy season. He has also requested a comprehensive report on these preparations.

Murree Deputy Commissioner Agha Zaheer Shirazi has called for 100 additional uniformed volunteers from early December. A budget of Rs17 million has been requested for this initiative. Furthermore, 19 facility centres will be established at strategic locations to guide tourists throughout the snow season. These centres will also be set up at the Motorway Toll Plaza and GT Road Toll Plaza, where the entry and count of computerised vehicles into Murree will be monitored.

Once Murree reaches its vehicle capacity, additional vehicles will be redirected from the GT Road and Motorway toll plazas. The uniformed field staff will be equipped with raincoats, umbrellas, walking sticks, torches, and other essentials. Facility centres will also be established at key locations such as GPO Chowk, Mall Road, Darya Gali, Jhika Gali, Kashmir Point, Lower Topa, and Sunny Bank. Each centre will have representatives from all relevant institutions working in three 8-hour shifts, ensuring round-the-clock service.

To manage traffic, 50 additional traffic officers will be deployed from Rawalpindi to Murree. The administration will coordinate with the National Highway Authority, Punjab Disaster Management Authority, and the Environment Department. The meteorological department will provide hourly weather updates once snowfall begins. Facility centres will also be equipped with PTCL landlines, mobile phones, and heaters.

Khattak has issued guidelines for tourists visiting Murree during the snow season. Families are advised to ensure their vehicles have a full tank of petrol, tire chains, warm blankets, mineral water, and dry food items. Roadside parking is strictly prohibited; vehicles must be parked in designated hotel or commercial parking areas.

The rents of heaters and room in hotels and rest houses has been categorised and fixed for the snow season. Under Section 144, the deputy commissioner has regulated prices for transport fares, room rents, and food and beverage costs at hotels and roadside stalls. Ten price control magistrates will conduct daily inspections to monitor compliance and prevent overcharging.