Heavy rain and snow expected in upper parts of Pakistan attracting the tourists and adventure love from all over the Pakistan.
Kalam, Malam Jabba, Madain Bahrain, Mahudand, Oshu, Gabin Jabba valleys in upper Swat received moderate to heavy snowfall on Monday which turned the weather cold and muggy. According to the Metrological department forecast report of heavy snowfall in upper parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa including Abbotabad, Swat, Mansehra, Dir, and Chitral has thronged people from Punjab to enjoy the skiing and snowfall.
Hotels in Matiltan, Loye Sar, Miandam, Gabral, and Utror despite muggy weather influxed a large number of tourists along with family and friends to have fun and quality time.
Tourists from Peshawar, Nowshera, Mardan, Charsadda, Lahore, Rawalpindi, and Islamabad were seen in large numbers at Kalam, Malam Jabba, and Bahrain, enjoying the snowfall, trekking, and brown trout fish found in abundance following the Government’s successful projects in the fishery sector.
Known for a combination of its seven distinctive features, including snowfall that is hard to find together in any other tourist destination of Pakistan, Swat is also home to the primitive Gandhara civilization and ice skiing at Malam Jabba.
Besides river rafting, adventure sports, snow-clad mountain peaks, and trout fish, Swat Motorway has made it an ideal destination for winter tourism and adventure sports in Pakistan.
The 150-kilometer-long freshwater of the Swat River, originating from different glaciers and lakes including Mahodand and Gabral mountains, offers unique opportunities for adventure and snow sports to explore in a single day trip.
Fazagut, Fatehpur, Barikot, and Chakdara are most suitable for water rafting in the Swat River, and if developed on modern lines, they could attract a large number of tourists during winter.
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Ambassador Manzoor said the Swat River is ideal for ‘fish jumping and disappearing water sports,’ and the introduction of such sports would help bolster the rural economy and promote winter tourism and transport industries in KP.
Bestowed with more than 50 high-altitude small and large lakes, Swat’s Mahodand Lake is an exceptional source of attraction for tourists, who enjoy its blue waters and boat riding amid cold breezes and snowfall.
Besides its famous Deodar trees and precious wildlife, Swat’s snow-clad tall mountain ranges of Falakser, Mankial, and Elum peaks offer great challenges to mountaineers and trekkers to explore, especially during winter.
Likewise, its extensive plains and orchards, which bear fruits and vegetables, carry a unique comparative advantage over other tourist destinations in the country.
Attracting Buddhists, monks, and archaeologists from across the world throughout the year, Swat’s archaeological treasures and ancient artifacts housed at Saidu Sharif Museum become a distinctive feature, taking tourists to the glorious history of Swat.
The Buddhist sites of Swat, including Saidu Sharif Museum and Stupa, besides the Buthkara Buddhist monastery, attract tourists from across the world.
Ambassador Manzoor said Swat is very important in terms of Buddhist history and should be showcased on digital media to attract followers of Buddhism worldwide.
“Another striking feature of Swat is the skiing sports played at Malam Jabba every year during winter, and it should be promoted to bolster the rural economy.”
According to KP tourism department officials, a mega project has been prepared to organize different winter sports and tourism events in various districts, including Swat.
Kalam’s winter gala and Tour-de-Cycle race were recently organized in Swat, while the first-ever sports rafting event at the Swat River will be held, along with an international paragliding event at Saidu Sharif.
To reduce the tourist load at Kalam, Malam Jabba, and Bahrain, new tourist spots will be developed at Sola Tanar, Puchar, and Jargo valleys, while walking tracks will promote ecotourism in Swat.
To maintain natural beauty and avoid pollution at tourist spots in Swat, camping pods will be established at new tourist destinations, alongside Kalash cultural events in Chitral. To link new tourist destinations with Swat Motorway, substantial funds are being spent on developing and constructing new roads. Work on the World Bank-assisted KP Integrated Tourism Project is underway in the province to promote tourism.
The construction of 15 jeepable tracks was also proposed in Malakand and Hazara divisions, while six tourist facilitation centers have been established, and work on seven others has started.
The groundbreaking of the 23 km-long Mankyal-Bada Sarai Road has been performed for rehabilitation.
The project also includes the construction of four bridges and two rest areas. Officials said an Integrated Tourism Zone at Mankyal Swat would be established where modern facilities will be provided to tourists under the KITE project.
A mega project for feasibility studies to identify new tourist spots has been planned. A road to the Sheikh Badin tourist resort located at the confluence of DI Khan and Lakki Marwat districts will also be constructed, while a tourist wing for merged areas will be established to monitor and oversee tourism-related activities there.
These snow festivals are expected to impact the socio-economic conditions of area residents positively by creating employment opportunities for youth.
Tourism police have been made operational in Malakand and Hazara divisions to facilitate tourists. Officials said tourism police were deployed in key places in Swat to facilitate tourists and snowfall lovers during the winter season.
Host tourism is also being launched, under which special loans of up to Rs3 million will be provided to residents of tourist areas for the construction and renovation of at least two rooms to provide safe and affordable accommodations to tourists.
