Pakistan offers a large number of highly attractive spots for domestic and international tourists. The Government of Pakistan is keen to introduce these sites to the foreign tourists. Prime Minister Imran Khan is most often highlighting the tourism extravaganza of Pakistan. But is that all enough?
The answer is a big NO. Tourism does not mean natural beauty, green valleys, snow capped peaks etc. Tourism means safety of life most importantly. Tourism means world class infrastructure as well. Unfortunately, Pakistan lacks this precondition of tourism.
Patriata is a tourism spot in Galliyaat area of KPK province. It is near to Nathiya Gali where the Prime Minister is fond of spending his leaves. A chairlift was installed in Patriata in early 60s that has completed its tenure 3 decades ago and it is still being operated jeopardizing the precious lives of the tourists.
On June 2017, in nearby Murree area a chairlift cable broke into a deep ravine. 11 people died in the accident. The residents of Chara Pani village used a locally-made chairlift to cross the river and it broke unfortunately.
The Austrian experts have declared the chairlift highly unsafe and dangerous for the users. One can imagine the state of affairs here: what is said by the government on one side and what is the real situation on the ground. This is not the case in one tourist spot only. If this is the condition at a central location where the Prime Minister of the country and other high officials are very close, what will be the status of far flung spots?
In July 2009, a huge loss of lives was averted by rescuing 90 tourists who remained stranded in the air for 10 hours. The chairlift was installed in 1963 by the French Company. It completed its operative tenure in 1994.
But it remained operative due to political pressures exerted by the contractors of this area. It is publicly said that the contractors spend money on the local influential and powerful people who always stand with the contractors whenever the GDA directs the contractor to stop the operation to save the lives of the tourists.
Recently an Austrian firm has conducted a thorough study of the chairlift and reported that it should be replaced as soon as possible. The firm pointed out the risks of accidents if the chairlift continues operations.
GDA found itself helpless when the contractor again refused to stop the business and gathered political support from his beneficiaries. Further a civil court issued a stay order in the favor of the contractor. Now the lift is working and the lives of the tourists are at risk every time.
Director General Galliyaat Development Authority, Mr. Raza Habib has been looking after the issue for a long time. He says that the lift should have been replaced so far but political hurdles did not allow it. The contractors want to earn money and they have sympathizers in local political circles.
“Two efforts of replacing the lift were failed in the past, first in 2012 and second in 2019. Now we have allotted the tender through open bidding. The company “Monal Group” is ready to install state of the art lifts on their own. The company has assured that all safety standards will be strictly observed.” DG continued.
He is determined that we will get permission from the court. He says that the Stay order will be removed soon.
Tazeen Akhtar
