MURREE: A number of tourists, mainly from the twin cities, took to Murree to enjoy the first snowfall of the season.

About a foot of snow had fallen on Friday night in the area, while about two feet had fallen in the Galyaat region.

The morning after the snowfall was sunny and pleasant, allowing tourists to enjoy the weather at various locations, including Thanda Jungle and Bhurban Road. Buses full of students also came to Murree to enjoy the weather.

However, the snow created difficulties for local residents, especially those residing in rural areas. Link roads were closed to transport, forcing many schoolchildren to travel to their schools on foot.

And while the forest department will be providing firewood at subsidised rates, firewood has yet to be provided to various areas.

Ansar Abbasi, the nambardar of Aliot Danna village, told Dawn that despite various attempts to pursue the forest department, firewood has not yet been provided in his village and the lack of firewood has created problems for residents.

He said LPG is too expensive for poorer locals, and that the government should subsidise LPG in the colder parts of Murree to end deforestation, and added that firewood must be provided well before the start of winter.

Last year, traffic police also stopped tourists’ vehicles on the expressway, which the traders and hoteliers in Murree claimed was tantamount to ‘economic murder’. They claimed that tourism during the winter season is a significant part of the industry, and blocking traffic in the name of better management would damage their business.

This year PML-N Murree chapter president Raja Daftar Abbasi appealed to traffic police officials not to stop traffic so that business is not disrupted.

Published in Dawn, December 12th, 2015