ISLAMABAD: The Margalla Ridge Trail, the longest single trans-provincial trail in the country, was inaugurated on Saturday.

The 44-kilometre trail begins at Shah Allah Ditta in Islamabad and stretches to Summa, in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. It was once used by pedestrians but is not frequented anymore. However, the trail has been revamped by various departments in the capital alongside the KP tourism department.

Around 15km of the trail sits within the capital’s territory, Islamabad Mayor Sheikh Anser Aziz told Dawn. The remainder passes through the Abbotabad and Haripur districts.

“We have revamped the trail, due to which it will become a huge attraction for trekkers,” Mr Aziz said.

It takes two to three days to get from one end to the other, and there are six villages on the way including Talhar in Islamabad and Lora in KP, he said.

There will be stops throughout the trail where trekkers can camp, and they will be able to seek help from villagers in case of an emergency, he said, adding that they are also considering establishing tourist rest areas.

The inauguration of the trail was held at the visitors’ information centre on trail 5, and attended by KP Minister for Youth Affairs, Tourism and Culture Atif Khan, Mr Aziz, the KP tourism secretary, the Metropolitan Corporation Islamabad’s (MCI) director general environment, representatives of the Islamabad Wildlife Board, civil society members and environmentalists.

Guests at the ceremony were informed that the Margalla Ridge Trail was the longest single trans-provincial trail in the country. It is 44km long, with exit points at various locations.

Addressing the ceremony, Mr Aziz said the Margalla Hills were the main feature of Islamabad’s natural beauty. People from all over the world visit the hills every day for the seasonal water springs, sightseeing spots and walking and hiking trails, he added.

The Margalla Ridge Trail, he said, will bring more tourists to Islamabad and further promote healthy activities in the city.

He said the MCI has taken consolidated steps to beatify the city further by promoting tree plantation campaigns, remodelling greenbelts and upgrading parks by involving the private sector under corporate social responsibility.

He added that the MCI had engaged the private sector, individuals and institutes who have planted trees at their own expense while the MCI has facilitated them through the provision of manpower and technical expertise.

He added that the wildlife board was working hard to preserve the ecology of the national park and playing a vital role in preserving it for later generations.

Mr Khan said at the event that Pakistan was blessed with natural tourist sites and the government, particularly in KP, was working to identify and explore new destinations where eco-friendly tourism would be promoted.

He said the development of the Margalla Ridge Trail was a commendable effort that would help promote tourism, adding that the KP government will provide more facilities to the people hiking this trail as its larger portion falls within its limits.

Published in Dawn, November 4th, 2018