WE keep talking about what tourism can do to the country’s economy and, indeed, to the image of the country. While there is absolutely no denying the potential of tourism to do all that and much more, we tend to keep focus on the rhetoric rather than the practical.

I was in Skardu on the eve of the recent Independence Day when the first international flight from Dubai was to land with 80 passengers on board. Unlike Karachi and other major cities of the country, there was no activity on the midnight of Aug 13/14. That was just an observation, not a judgment, mind you.

I saw the entourage of foreign tourists at Manthoka waterfall, which is around 60km from Skardu city, a drive of about 90 minutes. All of them were visibly happy enjoying magical view of the waterfall while having a meal in the nearby restaurant. The official vehicles of the area deputy commissioner and the inspector-general of police (IGP) were also seen.

The next day, Aug 15, we were heading towards Gilgit when we found the road blocked at Roundu. The local shopkeepers were holding some kind of a protest sit-in against the Frontier Works Organisation (FWO), or so we were told. It was about 8am and we were the first one to reach the spot that day, but despite repeated requests, the protestors ignored us completely.

A number of policemen were also there, but they were helpless. Soon, a number of buses and wagons carrying local and foreign tourists also reached the spot and got stuck. Unfortunately, it was a hot day. We tried to get some shelter as there were women, children and even infants in our party, but there was none.

We turned around and took shelter about 5km from Roundu in a rather small restaurant, hoping that the matter would be resolved shortly. That did not happen. Around 2pm, we decided to move back all the way to Skardu, reaching there around 4pm. We had to arrange the hotel all over again, costing us a reasonable amount of money, especially in view of the fact that it was a forced and undesirable stay. At about 7pm, the hotel staff told us that the road had been cleared, but we decided to stay back and checked out the next day.

Now, tell me, who would want to come to a country where even the tourist spots are not immune to the protest syndrome that afflicts the nation at large? What message the foreigners will convey to their fellows about visiting Pakistan?

People should think about their actions that hurt the national interest and economy, and earn a bad name for the country.

Khawaja Tajammul Hussain
Karachi

Published in Dawn, September 17th, 2023