Murree Prepares for Snow Season with the Establishment of Five Facilitation Centers
As the winter chill descends upon Murree, the picturesque hill station is gearing up to welcome tourists for the snow season from December 1, 2023, to March 1, 2024. To ensure a seamless experience for visitors, tourist facilitation centers have been strategically established at five key locations across Murree.
These facilitation centers, designed with the primary objective of ensuring the safety and guidance of tourists, will be operational 24/7. The central control room overseeing these centers will be situated at Jinnah Hall, GPO Chowk Facilitation Centre. Staffed by officers from various departments, including traffic police, civil defense, IESCO, cantonment board, municipal corporation, Punjab highways, tourism, and the meteorological department, these centers are poised to provide comprehensive support.
Regulating the influx of vehicles is a key focus, with a maximum limit of 18,000 vehicles permitted to enter Murree during snowfall. The facilitation centers are strategically positioned at GPO Chowk, Guldna, Lower Topa, Jhika Gali, and Changla Gali, ensuring efficient management of the tourist flow.
Special picket points have been established at entry routes from Rawalpindi, Islamabad, Kotli Sattian, Azad Kashmir, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to monitor and control the entry of vehicles. Computerized vehicle counting at these points will cease entry once the 18,000-vehicle limit is reached, contributing to a more organized and controlled environment.
District Officer Civil Defence, Talib Hussain, emphasized the implementation of a full emergency plan for December, January, and February during the Murree snowfall season. Tourists are urged to come prepared with warm clothes, blankets, water bottles, food items, and small gas stoves. Vehicles entering Murree should also ensure they have sufficient fuel for the duration of their stay.
To bolster safety measures, 35 civil defense personnel, including 15 armed officials, will be stationed in Murree markets and parking areas. Armed with stun guns and walkie-talkies, they are dedicated to ensuring the safety of tourists. Activities such as brawling, aerial firing, and the possession of weapons are strictly prohibited, and violations will result in arrests and the filing of cases.
In a bid to curb exploitation, official rates for tea, coffee, and other commodities in the markets have been fixed. Price magistrates will monitor rates between 9 am and 1 pm, enforcing strict measures against overcharging. Hotel rents have also been categorized and fixed to prevent overpricing. Violations of these regulations will face stringent consequences, warned Hussain.
As Murree prepares to embrace the winter season and the influx of tourists seeking the enchantment of snow-covered landscapes, meticulous planning, and comprehensive measures have been put in place.
