Senator Talha Mehmood expressed serious concern over the state of tourism infrastructure in Chitral.
ISLAMABAD:
The Senate Standing Committee on Inter-Provincial Coordination has been informed that security concerns continue to pose a challenge in Chitral as foreign tourists are 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 agenda, with a major focus on tourism promotion in Chitral, institutional coordination and national development programmes.
The committee was informed that several initiatives are being carried out 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 expressed serious concern over the state of tourism infrastructure in Chitral. He highlighted that the lack of basic facilities remains a major obstacle to the growth of tourism.
“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 inadequate.
He pointed out deficiencies in accommodation, food services and emergency medical care, revealing that hospitals in Chitral face a severe shortage of medical facilities, stating that there is not even water available for surgical procedures.
He further questioned the absence of functional dialysis machines across the district and revealed that the machines in Lower Chitral are also not operational.
A “Responsible Tourism” campaign has been launched to promote respect for local culture and environmental protection, 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 told that after the 18th Amendment, tourism shifted to the provinces and in 2022, PTDC motels were transferred accordingly. (With input from the APP)
