| Murree: As the winter season approaches, Murree gears up with strategic measures and sets up Facilitation Centers to accommodate tourists, according to news published in the leading newspaper on November 29.
Read: CDA asked to repair damaged part of Murree Road near Bhara Kahu
As per the details, the tourist facilitation centers have been established at five key locations for snow season, spanning from December 1 2023, to March 1 2024. The main objective of the said centers is to ensure safety and guidance of tourists. The centers are established at GPO Chowk, Guldna, Lower Topa, Jhika Gali, and Changla Gali.
The central control room overseeing these centers will be situated at Jinnah Hall, GPO Chowk Facilitation Centre. These centers will be operational 24/7 and staffed by officers from various departments, including traffic police, police station, civil defence, IESCO, cantonment board, municipal corporation, Punjab highways, tourism, and the meteorological department.
To manage the influx, a strict limit of 18,000 vehicles entering Murree during snowfall has been imposed. Special picket points have been set up to regulate entry routes from Rawalpindi, Islamabad, Kotli Sattian, Azad Kashmir, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Computerized vehicle counting at these points will cease entry once the limit is reached.
District Officer Civil Defence, Talib Hussain, emphasized the implementation of a full emergency during December, January, and February. He urged tourists to come prepared with warm clothes, blankets, water bottles, food items, and small gas stoves. Vehicles entering Murree are required to have sufficient fuel.
For safety, 35 civil defense personnel, including 15 armed officials, will be stationed in Murree markets and parking areas equipped with stun guns and walkie-talkies. Strict measures against activities such as brawling, aerial firing, and the possession of weapons are in place, with violations leading to arrests and the filing of cases.
Read: PHA launches cleanliness drive in Murree
In an effort to ensure fair pricing, 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, and strict measures against overcharging will be enforced. Hotel rents have also been categorized and fixed to prevent overcharging, with violations facing strict consequences, according to Talib Hussain. |
|
