OF late, numerous posts on the social media have complained against the local people of Murree harassing visitors and their families. I have been visiting Murree and its suburbs for almost 40 years, and speaking from personal experience vouch that there is truth in these allegations.

In the past couple of years, I have felt that the behaviour of shopkeepers, hotel operators and vendors has deteriorated. Of course, not all locals are rude, but a few black sheep are enough to give the place a bad name.

It is these very tourists that are the primary source of livelihood for the inhabitants of this hill station. A two-pronged strategy may be helpful in overcoming this issue. One; a community programme to educate the locals about the importance and necessity of courtesy and good behaviour, and 2) a robust zero tolerance policy on law and order to identify and punish miscreants.

Akbar Jan Marwat

Islamabad

Published in Dawn, May 6th, 2018