RAWALPINDI: Punjab Caretaker Minister for Primary and Secondary Healthcare and Population Welfare Dr Jamal Nasir on Monday asked the Murree administration to brace for winter season when visitors throng the hill station to avoid the tragedy took place in January 2022.
He was presiding over a high level meeting at Jinnah Hall in Murree to review arrangements for coming winter season.
He warned against any administrative negligence and directed to ensure implementation of traffic management plan.
“Vehicles entry to the hill station should be stopped after they hit the number fixed for a particular time,” he said.
Commissioner Liaquat Ali Chattha, Murree Deputy Commissioner Agha Zaheer Abaas Sherazi, City Traffic Officer Rawalpindi Taimur Khan, officials of Forest Department, highway, tourism, police, Rescue 1122, Civil Defence, Traffic Police, Health, Education and other departments were also present in the meeting.
The caretaker provincial minister said that Murree attracted a large number of tourists from all over the country in winter.
He said that all the arrangements will be made to avoid January like tragedy. In January 2022,as many as22 people died in vehicles trapped in snow.
Speaking on the occasion, Commissioner Rawalpindi Liaquat Ali Chattha said that the Murree administration should take all safety measures and arrangements for tourists during winter and snow season by Nov 15.
He said the administration and traffic should ensure implementation of the traffic management plan. “Illegal constructions and encroachments have been eradicated in Murree.
“New constructions and plastic bags have been banned at the hill station. Lifter should be available to avoid wrong parking. The Master Plan should be implemented in collaboration with Urban Unit and RDA.
The Forest Department should
ensure cleanliness on the jogging track and the Murree Municipal Corporation should ensure that CCTV cameras are fully functional,” he asked.
Murree Deputy Commissioner Agha Zaheer Abbas Shirazi while giving a briefing said that all possible safety measures are being taken ahead of winter and snowfall season.
“The management will inform tourists through FM radio about weather conditions in Murree, parking details, hotel bookings and peak hours,” he said, adding Forest Department, Highway Department, Civil Defence, Rescue 1122, Tourism Squad officials will be present in the field to guide and assist the tourists. Facilitation centres will be set up at various places in Murree for the tourists. Monitoring will also be done through cameras at various locations by the Murree Municipal Corporation. Bypasses are being constructed on four different routes in Murree and registration records of all hotels have been updated. Cleanliness status by Rawalpindi Waste Management Company will be improved further,” he said.
Published in Dawn, October 3rd, 2023
