Murree rolls out winter safety plan for tourists

Deploys snow-clearing machinery, facilitation centres, round-the-clock surveillance

RAWALPINDI:

The district administration, National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and Rescue 1122 have finalised an extensive winter tourism safety and disaster management plan for Murree to protect tourists and prevent any untoward incidents during the snowfall season.

The plan, titled 'Mission Safe Winter', has been activated following the first snowfall in the Galiyat region, with the official winter tourism season scheduled to run from December 15 to February 15. The administration has put comprehensive arrangements in place to ensure uninterrupted traffic flow and the safety of visitors during heavy snowfall.

Under the plan, 19 tourist facilitation centres have been established at various locations across Murree, Galiyat and the routes connecting Rawalpindi, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Azad Kashmir. These centres will provide immediate assistance and guidance to tourists during emergencies.

Round-the-clock surveillance of Murree's roads and entry points is being maintained through 181 high-tech Safe City cameras and thermal drones. A special Pakistan Army contingent will also remain deployed for continuous monitoring.

The Health Department has been directed to ensure the 24-hour availability of doctors and medicines at hospitals. Meanwhile, the Punjab Enforcement and Regulatory Authority (PERA) will monitor hotels and petrol stations to prevent overcharging, profiteering and violations of officially prescribed rates. Uniform fare schedules and standardised food prices will also be enforced.

To keep roads clear during snowfall, more than 20 modern snow-clearing vehicles, cranes and loaders have been positioned at key locations. New Rescue 1122 stations have been made operational, while an air ambulance strip along the Murree Expressway has also been proposed to facilitate aerial assistance during serious emergencies.