MANSEHRA: The Ansoo Lake, which was discovered by the Pakistan Air Force pilots while flying over Kaghan valley in 1993, is still inaccessible for the nature lovers.

The Ansoo- or tear-shaped lake, which is situated at 13,927 feet above the seal level at the bed of Malika-i-Parbat — the highest mountain range in Kaghan valley — is still untouched as tourists coming to the valley to enjoy its scenic beauty couldn’t reach there because of the difficult terrain of the high mountains.

“If the government wants to promote tourism in accordance with Prime Minister Imran Khan’s vision it should develop that high altitudearea to attract the nature lovers not only from within the country, but also from abroad,” said Mohammad Fiaz Khan, a nature lover, while talking to mediapersons after visiting the Ansoo Lake along with a group of his friends.

A group of 10 friends recently visited the Ansoo Lake after a five hours of journey by foot from Saiful Muluk Lake.

“The pleasant cold weather there is an unmatched gift of nature,” he said, adding that Ansoo Lake was still half-blanketed by snow. He said that the government should build tracks in a way to preserve nature to provide an opportunity to tourists to reach there.

CAR LIFTERS GANG BUSTED: The police claimed to have busted a gang of inter-provincial car lifters and seized over 50 stolen vehicles and motorbikes from their possession.

“We worked on scientific lines and not only busted the gang, but also recovered over 50 stolen vehicles,” said additional superintendent of police Jamil Akhtar while addressing a press conference at his office here the other day.

“We arrested the ringleader Salahuddin and seized 30 motorbikes and 23 cars. Raids are still underway for more arrests and recoveries,” he said, adding that another car lifter Aqash Ahmad was also arrested and a stolen vehicle seized from his possession.

GRID STATION SEALED: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa excise and taxation department has sealed the central grid station of Pesco over default of Rs7 million taxes here the other day.

“We have sealed the grid station as Pesco has not paid Rs7 million taxes since long,” Ammar Khan Jadoon, the district excise and taxation officer, told mediapersons.

According to Pesco officials, if the grid station developed any fault the power supply from Mansehra to Muzaffarabad (AJK) could be affected.

Published in Dawn, August 15th, 2020