CHITRAL, Aug 6: A number of schemes initiated by previous regimes for development of tourism in Chitral were abandoned because of political changes at the centre. As a result, the region’s immense potential in the sector remains under exploited.

Chitral, with its beautiful valleys and innumerable places of interest to tourists, has been a victim of neglect. Tourism can also play an important role in the economic progress of the area as it can provide jobs to local people.

During the tenure of Shahzada Mohyuddin as minister of state for tourism in the Nawaz Sharif government, the Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation (PTDC) built hotels in Mastuj, Booni, Birmogh Lusht and Bumburate.

However, there is a need for more hotels and, above all, tourist resorts to make the area more attractive for tourists.

A tourist’s itinerary for Chitral is usually short. Tourists usually spend three days in Kalash valley and one day at Garam Chashma, while mountaineers proceed to the upper parts of the district for the Hindukush Range, Terich Mir. This completes the list of places of tourist interest.

The city of Chitral is situated near the famous resort of Birmogh Lust, which used to be the summer capital of the rulers of Chitral. A ramshackle fort of former rulers is still there.

The PTDC has built a hotel here while the wildlife department has also set up a rest-house.

The Chitral Gol National Park is home to various endangered species like snow-leopard, Kashmiri markhor and chakor which can be watched from close quarters.

The area needs to be developed as a resort, with cable cars or chair-lifts and a metalled road. In upper Chitral also there are a lot of places which could be developed to attract domestic and foreign tourists.

With towering hills on all four sides, Golen is a picturesque valley, but the lack of communication facilities there keeps tourists away.

Entering the upper part of the district, one passes through the scenic village of Reshun where a hydel power station and its 2km long tunnel are main attractions. The lush green pastures, the lake and mighty rocks all around can be converted into picnic spots.

The famous Shandur pastures, which connect Chitral with Northern Areas, also need to be developed. No step has so far been taken to develop them as a place of tourist interest despite their vast potential.

There are a lot of other places in the upper part of the district, like Khot, Rech, Terich and Oveer valleys, which can be developed.

The PTDC and the Sarhad Tourism Corporation need to make more efforts to develop the region. During the current financial year, the STC has allocated funds only for the renovation of the Chitral museum, while the PTDC hotels in the area are running in loss because of the small number of visitors.