Senator Talha Mehmood expressed serious concern over the state of tourist infrastructure in Chitral
ISLAMABAD:
The Senate Standing Committee on Inter-Provincial Coordination has been informed that security issues continue to pose a challenge in Chitral, where foreign tourists must obtain a No Objection Certificate (NOC) before visiting the district.
The panel met under the chairmanship of Senator Dilawar Khan to review a broad agenda with primary focus on promotion of tourism in Chitral, institutional coordination and national development programmes.
The committee was informed that several initiatives are underway to promote tourism, including activation of digital platforms, development of the “Visit Chitral Valley” website, preparation of brochures and maps, and collaboration with UNESCO.
Senator Talha Mehmood expressed serious concern over the state of tourist infrastructure in Chitral. He highlighted that the lack of basic facilities remains a major obstacle to growth in tourism.
“Internet and social media access, which are now essential in the modern tourism landscape, are 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.
Noting deficiencies in accommodation, food service and emergency health care, he revealed that hospitals in Chitral are facing a severe shortage of medical facilities, saying that even water is not available for surgical procedures.
He further questioned the absence of functional dialysis machines in the entire district and revealed that machines in Lower Chitral are also non-functional.
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 was devolved to the provinces and in 2022 PTDC motels were transferred accordingly. (With input from APP)
