RAWALPINDI: Tourists visiting Gilgit this summer will enjoy more and better transport and accommodation facilities and new attractions too, it was learned here yesterday [May 3]. This will be possible as a result of some decisions recently taken by the Northern Areas Tourists Advisory Committee.

Following the Committee’s decision to streamline the problem of transport, some travel agents have purchased new jeeps and stationed them in Gilgit for the exclusive use of the tourists. Till now the tourists to Gilgit had to depend on jeeps used both for carrying goods and passengers and mostly they used to be over-loaded. The jeep-owners preferred over-loading by goods and men than to spare their vehicles for tourists because of profit motive.

The Department of Tourism, which has an office in Gilgit, also maintains some jeeps and an eight-room rest house there for tourists. The Advisors’ Committee is also making efforts to raise funds through donations for the construction of a polo stadium in Gilgit, it was further learnt. The question of polo stadium, needed for the preservation and promotion of the famous game of Gilgit horsemen, was discussed in recent meeting of the Committee. A polo tournament will be held every summer in Gilgit.

Published in Dawn, May 5th, 2019