RAWALPINDI: The administration has finalised measures to facilitate and provide security to tourists visiting Murree on Eidul Fitr and a central control room set up at the Jinnah Hall in the Murree district will be active round-the-clock with the help of focal persons of all departments concerned.

A meeting chaired by Commissioner Aamir Khattak reviewed the arrangements made by the Murree admin in light of the Eid holidays starting next week.

According to the local administration, the tourists as well as locals will be facilitated on Eid to ensure they do not run into any problems. The tourists were also advised to get guidance from the official accounts of the administration regarding weather and traffic updates in Murree before planning their trip.

The Rawalpindi commissioner also directed the assistant commissioners to ensure facilitation centres at 17 Meel, Lower Topa, Jhika Gali, Kuldana, Kashmir Chowk, and GPO Chowk. In anticipation of tourists’ influx, the Murree admin has been asked to double their petrol stock as well as other essentials. The commissioner also told the admin to remain active in the field on Eid to ensure there was no overcharging.

Central control established; hotels warned against overcharging

The hospital staff, necessary medicines, lab tests, and presence of senior doctors in the THQ Murree should also be ensured, said the meeting.

The commissioner also directed the deputy commissioner of Murree to relay to the hotel association that action would be taken against hotels in case of overcharging.

The commissioner asked people to cooperate with the administration and plan their trip in line with weather advisory to avert unpleasant situations.

During the meeting, the commissioner was informed that all the necessary arrangements had been completed in Murree ahead of Eidul Fitr. “Focal persons from seventeen departments, including traffic police, motorway, highway, tourism squad and health department will be available 24/7 to guide tourists at the central control room,” said a statement.

Besides the security arrangements, the City Traffic Police has issued a plan which barred parking around the GPO Chowk, ensured fixed timings for heavy vehicles, restricted entry of motorcycles to a designated point, and instructed traffic en route to Kashmir to use the Expressway.

In light of Eid tourism, the Rawalpindi Waste Management Corporation (RWMC) has sent additional workers who will be present in the field all the time.

The tourism squad will be deployed to guide and assist the tourists and the traffic police on FM 88.6 will share real-time weather updates by the Met department.

Similarly, important information through sign boards will be displayed at various places for the convenience of tourists.

Murree Deputy Commissioner Agha Zaheer Abbas, Additional Deputy Commissioner Qasim Ijaz, Rawalpindi Development Authority Director General Kinza Murtaza, and Parks and Horticulture Authority Director General Ahmed Hassan Ranjha attended the meeting.

Published in Dawn, April 8th, 2024