SWAT: Thousands of tourists visiting Swat Valley during Muharram holidays have caused severe traffic congestion on roads leading to major tourist destinations including Madyan, Bahrain, Kalam and other scenic areas.

Long queues of vehicles were witnessed on main Swat-Kalam Road, leaving both tourists and locals stranded for hours. The heavy influx of visitors has once again highlighted lack of an effective traffic management system in the region.

Locals complained that road blockades and traffic jams affected their daily life, making it difficult to reach hospitals, markets schools and workplaces timely.

They said that tourism contributed significantly to local economy but increasing number of vehicles entering the upper parts of Swat without proper planning was creating serious challenges for local population.

Many people travelling for medical treatment reported delays owing to the congestion while others said that they were unable to carry out routine activities because roads remained blocked for extended periods.

Locals urged district administration, traffic police and relevant authorities to devise a comprehensive traffic management mechanism, especially during holidays and peak tourist seasons, to ensure smooth movement of vehicles and minimise inconvenience to people.

“Tourism is important for our area, but roads become completely blocked during holidays. Patients and elderly people face serious difficulties in reaching hospitals on time. The government should introduce a proper traffic management plan,” Mohammad Israr, a resident of Bahrain, told this scribe.

Locals said that the traffic jam made their life miserable. “We spend hours stuck in traffic even for short distances. Reaching markets and carrying out daily activities become very difficult. Authorities must regulate the entry of vehicles and improve traffic flow,” said Shahzad Khan, a resident of Madyan.

Niaz Ali, a resident of Kalam, said that they faced the same problem in every holiday season. “Residents, students and patients suffer owing to road blockades. A permanent mechanism should be introduced to manage the huge number of tourist vehicles entering the area,” he added.

Swat remains one of Pakistan’s most attractive tourist destinations, drawing visitors from across the country. During the ongoing Muharram holidays, tourists have thronged various scenic spots including Madyan, Bahrain, Kalam, Malam Jabba, and Mahodand Lake, resulting in unprecedented traffic pressure on the valley’s road network.

Published in Dawn, June 26th, 2026