May 20, 2002	Monday	Rabi-ul-Awwal 7, 1423

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ABBOTTABAD, May 19: Ayubia, the most attractive tourist spot, is losing its charm due to closure of country’s oldest chair-lift which is out of order for the last nine months.

Ayubia, which was made a tourists point in 1967 by the then president Ayub Khan, got the first chair-lift fixed at Khan spur which is 8,500 feet high from sea level.

The lift was imported from Switzerland. Ayubia was also declared as a national park.

In the entire Galyat belt there is nothing charming for the tourists except the natural beauty and greenery including Nathiagali, Donga Gali, Changla Gali etc.

Initially the chair-lift was run by the Hazara Hill Tract owned and controlled by the Government of NWFP and lately by Galyat Development Authority (GDA). At present the authority has funds of 140 million rupees which  were supposed to be spent on the development  and beautification of the Galyat.

The GDA was earning handsome money yearly from the chair-lift while this was the only and one source of earning for the locals who through the business of hotels, restaurants and handicrafts were earning livelihood.