MANSEHRA: The district administration has tasked officials of the revenue department with helping the police stop tourists from going to Kaghan and Shogran areas during the coronavirus-induced lockdown.

The officials were posted to the Badra Interchange on the Hazara Expressway and Khatain Da Galla toll plaza on the Karakoram Highway as deputy commissioner Dr Qasim Ali Khan formally banned the entry of tourists to Kaghan valley and other places in the region.

Led by tehsildar Shaukat Shah, they offloaded tourists from vehicles or sent them back.

The administration also deployed revenue officials at checkposts on the way to Kaghan valley in Balakot tehsil.

“We have taken additional measures to prevent the entry of tourists to Kaghan valley during lockdown,” Dr Qasim told reporters.

He said hoteliers in Kaghan valley were cooperating with the administration for the enforcement of tourist restrictions.

SHOPS SEALED: The Baffa-Pakhal tehsil municipal administration on Tuesday sealed around 50 shops of non-essential items in Shinkiari, Ichrian, College, Baffa Doraha and other areas for being open despite lockdown.

The action was taken by a joint team of the police and TMA led by tehsil municipal officer Mazhar Awan.

Mr Awan said the crackdown on business and transport restrictions would continue.

Meanwhile, Ulema Peace Committee chairman Maulana Inayatur Rehman has demanded of the government to check the construction of the Hazara Expressway on Jarikass-Havalian section to prevent accidents.

“This important artery is uneven from Jarikass to Havalian and all its interchanges from Mansehra to Thakot are without signals, so accidents are common,” Mr Rehman told reporters here on Tuesday.

He said when a driver crossed the speed bar of 100 km per hour, he lost the vehicle’s control.

“The National Highway Authority should hold a test drive by road experts from Jarikass to Havalian to fix the issue,” he said. The committee head warned that if the demand wasn’t met by Eidul Fitr, the people would stage street protests.

Published in Dawn, May 12th, 2021