Murree's key tourist spots remain closed

MURREE:

Despite the peak of the summer tourism season, the Patriata Cable Car and Kashmir Point Safari Train have remained closed for the past three months, leaving thousands of domestic and international tourists disappointed.

The prolonged shutdown of these two key tourist attractions in Murree has exposed serious administrative lapses in the tourism sector. Sources and visitors allege that poor planning, negligence, and ineffective maintenance by the Punjab Tourism Development Corporation (PTDC) have rendered both facilities non-operational.

According to details, millions of rupees were spent last year on the repair and maintenance of the Patriata Cable Car, including services of a foreign company. However, the system reportedly developed faults again within a short period, raising questions over the quality of work and possible financial irregularities.

Similarly, the Kashmir Point Safari Train has also remained out of service for a long time. Officials have repeatedly announced plans for its restoration, but no concrete progress has been made so far.

Tourists and local residents have expressed strong disappointment, stating that these facilities are a backbone of Murree's tourism industry. The continued closure has forced visitors to return dissatisfied, while also negatively impacting the local tourism economy.

Local business circles say the prolonged shutdown is causing financial losses to tourism-related activities in the region.