Kumrat tourism hit as neglect persists

Decade-old road incomplete, cable car dream fades, hotels hit at Eid

UPPER DIR:

Kumrat Valley, globally renowned as a paradise on earth for tourists, has been left neglected by the government. The Patrak-Kumrat road remains incomplete even after 10 years, the Kumrat Development Authority (KDA) established three years ago exists only on paper, and the much-hyped Kumrat to Qash Kishlat Chitral cable car project has turned into a distant dream.

The recent Eid-ul-Fitr holiday saw fewer tourists than expected, causing significant losses to the local hotel industry.

In Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa's tourism landscape, the roads leading to the breathtakingly beautiful Kumrat Valley and Jahaz Banda have been reduced to rubble. A rainwater pool on the Kumrat road, which went viral on social media, has become a hot topic of debate just as the tourism season kicks off.

According to Shafiullah Kumrati, construction work on the main Patrak-Kumrat road has been dragging on for the past decade. "Our complaints fall on deaf ears because the contract for this road is awarded to the local MPA. That's why Kumrat road is now being called the eighth wonder of this era, no government has ever looked at us as human beings he said.

He added that the Kalam–Utror road remains closed for seven months a year due to snow, and four months ago, the Thal Bazaar–Kumrat link bridge collapsed due to overloading. Despite three official inauguration ceremonies, the bridge has yet to be rebuilt.

Malik Dildar of the Kumrat Hotel Association noted a clear disparity when comparing tourist statistics from K-P Tourism. "During Eid-ul-Fitr, fewer tourists visited Kumrat Valley and Jahaz Banda than expected, which has financially hurt the Kumrat hospitality industry," he said.

Government sources revealed that the Kumrat Development Authority (KDA) was established three to four years ago, but local reservations have prevented it from opening an office or launching any development activity in Kumrat. A multi-million rupee KDA machinery at Kalkot is rusting away, a direct loss to the public exchequer, while the KDA chairman and staff continue to draw regular salaries, honorariums, and perks.

Renowned tourist guide Zeeullah Kumrati said the government must fulfill its responsibilities. Tourism has become the primary livelihood for the people of Kumrat and Kohistan. The devastating floods of 2010 and 2022 destroyed link roads here, which urgently need reconstruction. Five years ago, the Kumrat-to-Qash Kishlat Chitral cable car project was approved, and a design was even sought from consultants, but official neglect has turned it into a mere dream for the people of Kumrat.