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    Snowfall lovers flock to Swat after Met Office prediction

    Snowfall lovers flock to Swat after Met Office prediction

    SWAT (APP): Following the Met Office’s prediction of snowfall, the tourists alongwith families rushed to Upper Swat to enjoy snow sports in the picturesque valley known as Switzerland of Pakistan.

    Winter tourism got a high boom in Swat district after Met Office’s rains and snowfall forecast at Malam Jabba, Oshu, Magudhand and Kalam valleys, attracting an influx of tourists from across the country to enjoy snowball games and skiing.

    Enjoying the weekend, the tourists along with families and children mostly from Khyber Pakthunkhwa and Punjab provinces thronged to these scenic valleys to enjoy pleasant change in the weather amid great fun and excitement.

    Dressed in overcoats, lecturer Naveed Khan, a resident of Nowshera alongwith friends was seen at Malam Jabba by throwing snowballs on each other amid fun and laughter.

    “Today my dream came true after seeing my first snowfall in my favorite tourists’ destination of Malam Jabba where the snow-covered valleys and mountain peaks attract visitors in droves these days,” said Naveed Khan with a big smile on his face.

    Taking selfies with delectable bites of trout fish with friends, the Nowshera’s born tourist said Malam Jabba’s lush green mountainous beauty and snowfall features take tourists to a new level of adventure, fun and excitement. “After Malam Jabba, Kalam is our next destination where snowfall comes relatively in higher speed than Malam Jabba due to its height besides enjoying serenity of Gabral and Mahudhand lakes and will depart for it by tomorrow morning.”

    The 150-kilometer-long freshwater of the River Swat originating from different glaciers and lakes including Mahodand and Gabral mountains offers unique opportunities for adventure sports enthusiasts to explore in a single day trip along with loved ones especially during winter.

    Despite poor roads conditions in Upper Swat, he said the view of snowfall in Malam Jabba and Kalam was worth seeing as many tourists with families were seen enjoying skiing, snowballs and other games inspite of stumbling on snow covered mountain terrains and sloppy tracks.

    On weekend, the domestic tourists started arriving in substantial numbers from Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Lahore, Jehlum, Mianwali, Sheikhupara, Peshawar, Nowshera, Swabi, Bannu, Karak, Kohat, DI Khan and others districts to Swat following MET office report about moderate to heavy snowfall in Kalam, Malam Jabba and others scenic areas of Northern KP during next three days.

    “Swat is my favorite tourist destination. Its seven distinctive features inclding snowfall are hard to find together in any tourist destination of Pakistan. The snowfall of high intensity at Kalam and Oshu Valley has added beauty and charm to the Switzerland of Pakistan,” said Faraz Khan, a tourist from Peshawar while talking to APP.

    He said Swat was going to become a hub of winter tourism due to its seven unique features including snowfall, Ghandhara civilization, water rafting, mountaineering, trout fish, eco-tourism and Swat motorway.

     Fazagut, Fatehpur, Barikot, and Chakdara were most suitable for water rafting in river Swat and if developed on modern lines could attract a large number of tourists during winter.

     “I came from Karak district to enjoy snowfall and trout fish together at Kalam and Malam Jabba with my family,” said Waris Khattak, a tourist while talking to APP.

    Besides its famous Deodar trees and precious wildlife, he said Swat’s snow-clad tall mountain ranges of Falakser, Mankial and Elum peaks offer great challenges to mountaineers and trekkers while its unique orange orchards carried a comparative advantage for farmers.

    “Buddhists, monks and archaeologists prefer to visit Swat due to its archaeological primitive treasures of Ghandhara civilizations besides ancient artifacts housed at Saidu Sharif Museum.

     “On the request of my son, I have arrived along with family for second time to see Ghandara artifacts, trout fish and snowfall in Kalam and Malam Jabba in a sing day trip despite tourists were being charged heavily by hoteliers here,” he said.

    One room in a quality hotel per day is being charged at Rs10,000 to Rs15,000 at Kalam while Rs8000 to Rs12000 in Malam Jabba, he said, adding prices of hotels needed to be regulated to attract more tourists.

    The Met Office predicted heavy to moderate rains with snowfall over the hills of Swat, Chitral, Dir, Malakand, Buner, Batagram, Manshera, Abbottabad, Bajaur, Mohmand, Khyber and Kurram districts till January  21 after the westerly wave griped the upper parts of the country including KP.  

    As result of which moderate to isolated heavy snowfall is expected in Chitral, Dir, Swat, Malakand, Kohistan, Mansehra and Abbottabad from January 11-13. The heavy snowfall may disrupt and cause clouser of roads in  Galiyat, Naran, Kaghan, Dir, Swat, Kohistan, Mansehra, Abbottabad and Shangla during next three days besides possibility of land-sliding in Upper KP.

    The spokesman of KP tourism department told APP that a mega project was prepared for organizing different winter sports and tourism events in Swat and others districts of KP.

    Kalam’s winter gala and tour-de-cycle race organized recently besides first-ever sports rafting at River Swat and an international paragliding event at Saidu Sharif planned. 

    Alike, a youth leadership conference and skiing event at Malam Jabba also held.

    To reduce tourists’ load at Kalam, Malam Jabba and Bahrian, new tourists spots would be developed at Sola Tanar, Puchar and Jargo valleys while walking tracks to be developed in new tourists zones to promote ecotourism in Swat.

    He said the newly constructed roads would be linked with swat motorway while tourism police was made fully operational at Malakand and Hazara divisions to facilitate tourists there.

    The construction of 15 jeepable tracks was also proposed in Malakand and Hazara divisions, he said, adding six new tourist facilitation centers were established and work on seven other started.

    A mega project for identification of new tourist spots was planned and a road to Sheikh Badin tourist resort in DI Khan would be constructed while a tourist wing for merged areas established in order to promote winter tourism in KP.

    The spokesman urged tourists to adopt all precautionary measures while going to Malakand and Hazara divisions keeping in view the MET office forecast for heavy rains and snowfall to avoid untoward incidents.

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