Islamabad:
The work has begun at the Hazara Waterfall in Jab Valley, Haripur, during a British-funded eco-tourism initiative aimed at transforming this hidden natural gem into a major tourist attraction for Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa. The project also seeks to connect the waterfall with the historic Bhamala Stupa and create a new cultural and eco-tourism route near Islamabad.
Supported by UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) through WWF-Pakistan’s water resource project (WRAP), is the first phase launched with RS5 million in financing. It includes the construction of a safe hiking trail and a small tourist hut replacing the dangerous local path currently used by villagers to carry firewood. The path is expected to be completed in mid -October 2025.
The Hazara waterfall boasts eight large cascades, the highest rising almost 400 meters, making it the largest waterfall system in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The site is only two hours from Islamabad and offers both accessibility and natural greatness. The falls feed into the Haro River flowing through Bhamala before reaching the Khanpur dam. Only 27 km from the dam can easily be integrated into a wider tourist cycle that combines natural beauty with heritage tourism.
Discovered in 2021 by Hassan Nisar, founder and CEO of Metrix Pakistan, the waterfall is now set to broader recognition. “This investment is a breakthrough that will make Jab Valley Pakistan’s next big tourist destination,” Nisar said. He said the project would generate jobs for local young people, create opportunities for shop owners, guides and drivers and reduce the dependence on burning cutting by encouraging preservation.
The KP Tourism Department has welcomed the initiative and says it will not only add fresh attractions to visitors, but also protect the fragile environment of the Jab Valley.
Tourism experts believe that Jab Valley could become an appealing alternative to overcrowded destinations such as Naran, Kaghan and SWAT. With proper planning, they claim, it could soon be among Pakistan’s leading eco-tourism hotspots.
WWF-Pakistan emphasized that environmental protection remains central to the project, adding that its success could serve as a model to develop other hidden nature treasures across the province.
With work now in progress and the first facilities to be opened in the coming weeks, Jab Valley is on its way to appear as a unique mix of nature and history-where Pakistan’s highest waterfall meets centuries old heritage.
