BATTAGRAM: The Baleeja valley of Battagram district, which boasts of mountain ranges as high as 8,000 to 10,000 feet, needs to be developed to promote tourism in the area.

The valley situated in the south of Battagram is about 12 kilometres in longitude, starting from Chatterplain in Mansehra in the south and reaching to Musa ka Musala valley in the north.

Gulfam Sabir, a poet and writer, who visited the valley for hiking on Saturday, told Dawn that Baleeja was comparatively easily accessible from Battagram by jeep, taking 40 minutes to reach the flap of the valley at Malkal Gali. He said the visitors had to trek the mountains for four to five hours to reach the valley.

He said the drive on the rock-strewn road going through the mountains was always risky, adding there were fresh water springs along the road.

He said the lush green valley was surrounded mountains with a river flowing through the fields, making distinct from the other tourist attractions in the country.

Syed Amir Jehan Sherazi, a social activist, urged the government to pave the road to the valley to make it easily accessible for the tourists. He also called for establishing guesthouses, hotels, and public parks for the tourists. The measures would generate employment for the locals and the much-needed revenue for the government.

The locals said the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf government, which ruled the province for five years, did not take interest in exploring the tourism potential of the district. They also assailed the local lawmakers for taking no interest in developing the district.

Published in Dawn, June 24th, 2018