RAWALPINDI: The district administration of Murree on Saturday lifted the ban on the entry of vehicles in the hill station, while electricity was restored in 76 per cent of the area with 60 per cent roads cleared of snow.

After two feet of snowfall on Friday, the district administration had imposed the ban on entry of vehicles. In the meanwhile, there was an electricity breakdown and Iesco managed to restore supply in 76 per cent areas of Murree on Saturday.

Talking to Dawn, Deputy Commissioner Murree Agha Zaheer Shirazi said that the ban was lifted early on Saturday morning.

He said all main roads in Murree were open while work continued to clear link roads of snow.

He said that the district administration was working in coordination with other departments to clear the roads.

He said more rain and snowfall was expected in coming days and the administration had made proper arrangements to tackle the situation.

The DC said there was no shortage of food and hospitals had already made arrangements for life saving drugs.

He said electricity breakdown occurred in Murree, but supply was restored in 76 per cent of area.

He said immediate reopening of roads after snowfall was the top priority of the administration, which was made possible through a timely and effective strategy.

He appealed to tourists to take precautionary measures during their journey, ensure the use of chains in their vehicles and fully cooperate with the administration and police.

According to the district administration, the influx of tourists continued in Murree and all relevant institutions were on alert so that any emergency situation can be dealt with immediately.

The areas where power supply has been restored were: Sunny Bank, Patriata, Upper Topa, TDCP and PAF, while 80 per cent areas in Kohala, 65 per cent in Barrian, 70 per cent areas in Numble, 30 per cent in Gharial and Dehla are still without electricity. Some areas of Kuldana, Company Bagh, Pindi Point, Berote, Patriata and Kotli Sattian were also without electricity.

Meanwhile, a National Highways and Motorway Police (NHMP) spokesperson said that the Murree Expressway had been opened to limited traffic due to an improvement in the weather conditions.

“However, due to the changing weather conditions and increasing rush, there is a possibility of closing the Expressway,” the spokesperson added, requesting the public to avoid unnecessary travel.

He said that more rain and snowfall was predicted in Murree and Galiyat on Monday and Tuesday.

Meanwhile, the National Highway Authority (NHA) has restored the connectivity of national highways across the country despite challenges posed by heavy snowfall and an unprecedented influx of tourists.

Through proactive measures and round-the-clock field operations, the authority has ensured that major travel arteries remain safe and accessible for the general public, a statement issued by NHA here on Saturday said.

In the regions of Murree and Galiyat, the NHA staff and heavy machinery remained mobilised day and night to counter the effects of continuous snowfall. Despite the extraordinary influx of tourists, the Murree Expressway was kept open for all types of traffic.

To prevent accidents caused by slippery road surfaces, teams conducted regular salt sprinkling operations, successfully maintaining smooth traffic flow and ensuring the safety of travellers.

Regarding regional updates, the NHA confirmed that all national highways in Balochistan, Gilgit-Baltistan, and the Northern Areas are now fully clear for traffic.

Significant progress has been made on the N-25 at Khojak Top and the N-50 between Kan Mehtarzai and Muslim Bagh, where road access has been completely restored for commuters, the authority further said.

In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, while the majority of the provincial road network is clear, intensive clearance activities are ongoing on the N-145 (Chitral–Garam Chashma Road).

Currently, the section from Chitral to Rogee is open for one-way traffic, while teams work tirelessly to clear multiple avalanches that occurred between Km 31 and 33.

While the stretch from Makardu to Gabor is fully restored, work continues on the Gabor–Saslaim section to clear remaining blockages.

Published in Dawn, January 25th, 2026