RAWALPINDI: After a period of inaction, the divisional administration has finally begun the process of preparing a master plan for the picturesque hill station of Murree.
This initiative comes in response to a tragic incident in January 2022, where 23 tourists lost their lives due to heavy snowfall.
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A high-level inquiry committee found negligence on the part of officials and government departments, leading to the removal of 15 senior officials, including the then commissioner Rawalpindi.
The committee’s recommendations include upgrading Murree to the status of a district, implementing a comprehensive master plan for future development and tourism promotion, enforcing strict building code regulations, controlling land use, and demolishing illegal structures.
Additionally, suggestions were made to establish a modern early warning system in collaboration with the Meteorological Department, strengthen the Department of Tourist Services, and develop a regulatory framework for various tourist services.
The Lahore High Court Rawalpindi bench also directed the administration to formulate a comprehensive master plan and enforce building bylaws to preserve the environment of the area.
Taking these directives into account, a meeting was held under the supervision of Divisional Commissioner Rawalpindi, Liaquat Ali Chatha, to review the implementation of the Murree contingency plan.
During the meeting, Chatha formed a committee led by the Local Government Project Management Unit (PMU) and emphasized the need to expedite the finalization of the Murree master plan.
He instructed the director of development to propose suitable sites for parking plazas and provided updates on the progress of the three bypasses for Murree.
The commissioner also highlighted the importance of making the national park of Murree and Kotli Sattian a tourist hub, urging the Forest Department to undertake a strategic tree plantation campaign.
To ensure effective coordination, the Meteorological Department was directed to provide timely forecasts to relevant departments, and all departments were urged to maintain close liaison with each other.
Displaying informative and warning boards at various locations for the convenience of tourists and discouraging unnecessary travel during emergencies were also emphasized.
Source: DAWN
