MUZAFFARABAD: The AJK government has made it mandatory for private organisations and individuals to obtain prior permission for adventure tourism in its area.

Adventure tourism involves exploration or travel to remote areas, with perceived or, possibly, actual risks. It may require specialised skills and physical exertion.

A notification issued by the AJK information and tourism secretariat on Friday reads: “Those intending to carry out any activity related to adventure tourism and sport, such as paragliding, rock climbing, hiking, mountaineering, white water rafting etc. will have to obtain a ‘no objection certificate’ (NOC) from the AJK tourism and archeology department”.

The notification makes it clear that the restriction would apply to organisations and individuals from across the country, including AJK.

The director of AJK’s tourism and archaeology department, Pirzada Irshad Ahmed, told Dawn the step was taken after the Neelum Valley incident in September this year, in which three of five climbers who set out from Islamabad went missing while trying to climb the 6,326 metre high Sarwali Peak.

Officials had said they had not known about the expedition, which was allegedly organised by an Islamabad based climber’s club.

Mr Pirzada Irshad Ahmed said AJK’s tourism department had signed a memorandum of understanding with reputed clubs to conducttourism activities.

However, Mr Ahmed said, problems arose when amateurs or less experienced clubs decided to tackle dangerous waters and unforgiving peaks without informing the concerned departments and officials.

Published in Dawn, November 14th, 2015

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