Senator Talha Mehmood has expressed deep concern over the state of tourism infrastructure in Chitral.
ISLAMABAD:
The Senate Standing Committee on Inter-Provincial Coordination was informed that security concerns continue to pose a challenge in Chitral with foreign tourists required to obtain a No Objection Certificate (NOC) before visiting the district.
The panel met under the chairmanship of Senator Dilawar Khan to review a wide-ranging programme, with main focus on promotion of tourism in Chitral, institutional coordination and national development programmes.
The committee was informed that several initiatives are underway to promote tourism, including activation of digital platforms, development of ‘Visit Chitral Valley’ website, preparation of brochures and maps and collaboration with UNESCO.
Senator Talha Mehmood has expressed deep concern over the state of tourism infrastructure in Chitral. He stressed that the lack of basic facilities remains a major obstacle to tourism growth.
“Access to the internet and social media, now essential in the modern tourism landscape, is largely unavailable in the region,” he said, adding that despite the global importance of Kalash culture and the Shandur Polo Festival, facilities for thousands of visiting tourists remain insufficient.
He highlighted deficiencies in accommodation, catering services and emergency healthcare, revealing that hospitals in Chitral are facing a severe shortage of medical facilities, stating that even water is not available for surgical procedures.
He further questioned the absence of functional dialysis machines in the district and revealed that the machines in Lower Chitral are also not operational.
A “Responsible Tourism” campaign was launched to promote respect for local culture and protection of the environment, particularly in the Kalash region. However, security concerns remain a challenge as foreign tourists are required to obtain a no-objection certificate before visiting Chitral.
The committee was informed that after the 18th amendment, tourism was transferred to the provinces and in 2022, PTDC motels were transferred accordingly. (With contribution from APP)
