ISLAMABAD: Authorities have issued a comprehensive winter travel advisory, urging both residents and tourists to exercise extra caution and take necessary precautions to ensure safety during the snowfall in the hilly areas of Pakistan.
All tourists planning to visit the snow-covered landscapes are advised to be vigilant and avoid unnecessary travel, considering the challenging weather conditions prevailing in the Northern Areas of the country. A report by a private news channel highlighted the importance of residents and tourists alike refraining from unnecessary journeys to navigate through the potentially hazardous circumstances.
Emphasizing the significance of safety measures, authorities urged tourists to make thorough preparations before embarking on their winter trips, especially as extremely low temperatures are being recorded in the Northern Areas. The Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) has directed local administrations to ensure the availability of machinery to promptly clear roads in the event of landslides, rain, and heavy snowfall.
The PDMA has also stressed the importance of timely updates for tourists to enable them to take necessary precautionary measures. Tourists are advised to stay informed about changing weather conditions and road statuses, with the National Highways & Motorway Police (NH&MP) being a key point of contact for updates.
With rain, wind, thunderstorms, and snow forecasted in various parts of the country, the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has urged tourists to plan their travels wisely. A spokesperson for the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) emphasized the need for special measures in popular tourist destinations such as Murree, Galiyat, Ziarat, Naran, Kaghan, Chitral, Gilgit-Baltistan, and Azad Jammu and Kashmir.
Tourists are strongly advised to ensure accommodation availability, carry necessary medicines, pack warm clothing suitable for extreme weather, and carry sufficient food items for at least 24 hours. The spokesperson highlighted the significance of public awareness, stressing the importance of a cautious approach during winter travels in the diverse and beautiful landscapes of Pakistan.”
