MANSEHRA: The district administration on Wednesday reviewed arrangements related to security and healthcare of tourists and provision of essential services to them during their visit to the Kaghan Valley.

“As the summer season has set in, we have relocated the police station to Naran and will shortly deploy the tourism police in the entire valley,” district police officer Shafiullah Khan Gandapur told a meeting at the New Circuit House.

The meeting, chaired by deputy commissioner Khalid Iqbal, discussed ways to improve hospitality and security services as well as the reopening of the remaining section of the Mansehra-Naran-Jalkhad Road and the road leading to the Saiful Muluk Lake.

“We have re-deployed our personnel in Naran to ensure foolproof security for tourists. As more sections of the MNJ Road have been cleared to traffic, additional police posts are being made operational,” the DPO said.

Official says personnel re-deployed in Naran

He said that police would also be deployed at Babusar Top, while traffic wardens had been assigned duties along the MNJ Road to manage traffic flow in the valley.

Assistant director of the Kaghan Development Authority Asad Shahzad informed the meeting that efforts were under way to reopen the Lake Road, allowing tourists to visit the snow-covered Saiful Muluk Lake.

“We expect that visitors will be able to travel to the Saiful Muluk Lake in four-wheelers within a week or so,” he said.

Mr Shahzad said that water supply schemes, greenbelts, ambulances and rescue services had been revitalised in the valley.

President of the Hoteliers Association Seth Matiullah said the tourism industry was fully prepared to welcome tourists.

“We have decided to offer quality food and hospitality services to all visitors coming to enjoy the valley’s natural beauty,” he said.

The road link between Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Gilgit-Baltistan, which has been closed since mid-November, is also expected to reopen soon.

HELD: The police on Wednesday arrested two men for attempting to sexually assault a girl in Lohar Banda Baglian area of Balakot tehsil.

Balakot Circle SP Jehanzeb Khan told reporters that both accused fled after the girl resisted their assault bid at a deserted place.

He said that the girl’s mother later approached him for strict action against the accused.

The SP said a police team, led by DSP Saddaqat Nisar and including Balakot SHO Fahad Shah, conducted a raid and arrested the accused.

He said that an FIR had been registered against the accused, while an investigation against them was under way.

Published in Dawn, April 24th, 2025