THIS refers to Bhurban Youth Hostel, Murree. This youth hostel is a part of Pakistan Youth Hostels’ Association (PYHA). The association was formed back in 1951 by E.K John Catchpole, a British officer.

The association is a non-profit, apolitical voluntary entity which provides hostel services. It is financed by the PYHA trust. The association has 16 branches in the country.

The Bhurban Youth Hostel, like other hostels, caters to low-income people such as students, hikers, etc., who stay in this hostel to escape the heat of the plains during summer.

The former secretary of the association late Agha Afzal Hussain, a retired federal secretary, devotedly worked to strengthen the association. He was clear about the idea of a youth hostel. He died of cancer a year ago.

His successor, a retired foreign service officer, has a different plan to run the Bhurban Youth Hostel. He wants to convert it into a luxurious four or five-star hotel. This approach will deprive the students and other low-income people of the opportunity to stay in the hostel at nominal rates.

Turning it into a five-star hotel is against the very spirit which forms the basis of the PYHA, a non-profit and apolitical body.

Hashim Khan

Islamabad

Published in Dawn, July 14th, 2016