ISLAMABAD, Jan 7: In an exciting weekend, the residents of twin cities and adjoining areas enjoyed the snow not only in Murree but also just round the corner - on the Margalla hills.
After a gap of six years, the 5,000-foot-high Margalla hills, overlooking the federal capital, received three inches of snow during the night between Friday and Saturday.
A large number of people along with their families reached Pir Sohawa to have a glimpse of the white ground and slopes.
Though the heavy rush created traffic congestions by midday soon after crossing Daman-i-Koh, but this did not fade off the excitement among the revellers.
While most of the men on driving seats remained inside their vehicles during the traffic jam, women and children were seen moving towards the hilltops on foot.
“I have seen people making snowman only on TV and it had always been a dream for all of us to make one,” said Shazia, who along with her cousins was making a small snowman on the bonnet of their car.
Shivering and shaking but enjoying and with enthusiasm, almost everybody was playing with the snow - even throwing it at the passers-by.
While few enthusiasts even reached the place Friday night to witness the falling ice flakes, the visitors moved towards Pir Sohawa Saturday morning.
The Met office has forecast that the current westerly system causing rains and snowfall across the country would end by Sunday noon, and the snow on the Margalla hills is also expected to melt by the evening.
“We expect another westerly spell in seven to 10 days but it is not necessary that the new system will also cause snowfall in Islamabad,” said Arif Mehmood, the director general of the Pakistan Meteorological Department.
A large number of visitors also headed towards Murree to witness the first snowfall of the winter.
After the one and-a-half-foot snow in Murree, more snowfall was expected in the Galiat on Sunday, the Met office said.
However, after a prolonged dry spell the snowfall also caught the authorities by surprise, and contrary to the tradition this year no appropriate traffic plan was made causing many problems to the tourists.
By Saturday noon, traffic was blocked at Mussiarri link road from the expressway to Murree due to heavy inflow of people, but the administration had made no alternative plans.
Similarly, parking is traditionally allowed only on one side of roads but this time no such plan was chalked which too added to the choking of roads.
But all these problems did not restrain the tourists from enjoying the snow and everybody was playful and smiling, sipping tea bought from the recently set up roadside stalls.