RAWALPINDI: The snowfall season in Murree will start from December 15 and continue until February 25, with a new safety and management plan in place to prevent accidents.
The plan comes after the tragic incident on January 7, 2022, when 23 tourists, including eight from the same family, died of suffocation in their vehicles due to heavy snow. Lack of proper rescue facilities caused deaths from carbon monoxide poisoning when snow blocked vehicle exhausts.
This year, Rawalpindi Commissioner Aamir Khattak and the Regional Police Officer will personally oversee safety measures. Additional snow-clearing vehicles and large quantities of salt and chemicals for melting snow have been sent to Murree. A snow safety advisory has also been issued for tourists.
Nineteen facilitation centres will be operational from December 15. The total number of snow-clearing vehicles has increased to 20, working 24 hours in three shifts with two staff members per vehicle per shift.
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Parking is banned on all roads leading to Murree, including Mall Road and local bazaars. Illegally parked vehicles will be sealed, and cars will only be allowed in designated commercial parking areas.
A military contingent will remain on alert during the season. NDMA, police, Rescue 1122, traffic wardens, and Civil Defence staff will also be deployed. All hotels must maintain uniform heater rental rates, and hotel and roadside food prices will be monitored daily.
Official rates will also be fixed for horse riding, chairlifts, and other recreational activities. Police and a baton-carrying Civil Defence force, including local youth, will be deployed to prevent quarrels. They will carry special electric batons to manage disputes.
Vehicle entry from the motorway and GT Road will be monitored. Traffic from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Azad Kashmir will be counted, and entry routes will close once the limit is reached. Residents with Murree ID cards will have unrestricted access.
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Tourists are advised to carry drinking water, juices, dried fruits, milk, metal snow chains, warm clothing, and blankets. Use of gas heaters inside vehicles on Murree routes should be avoided or kept minimal.
Islamabad Seven-Star Hotel Ready for SCO Summit
All preparations for building the first seven-star hotel in Islamabad have been completed to host the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit. The Capital Development Authority (CDA) has invited international firms to construct the hotel under a public-private partnership or joint venture.
The hotel will be built in the red zone and will include world-class conference halls, seminar halls, banquet halls, and guest rooms. Multi-story parking and a modern security system will also be installed. CDA plans to complete the project soon to accommodate guests of the SCO summit and has issued a global tender to hire the services of an international organization.
