After recovering from the violent spell of militancy that engulfed Swat for over three years, the picturesque Kalam valley is all set to welcome tourists.
No step has been taken to again attract the thousands of regular visitors to Kalam. Most started going to Nathiagali, Kaghan and Murree after militants played havoc with the peace of Swat. The government and administration is yet to convince people from across the country that Kalam is as peaceful as it used to be three years back.
The area had remained under curfew for several months when military operation was underway in Swat Valley last year. Militants had captured many buildings in Kalam, including some owned by the government. The lone police station in the town was razed to the ground after terrorists bombed it.
Kalam wore a deserted look as a small number of tourists were coming there. However, Bahrain and Madyan were relatively crowded with some families from parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and other provinces, were seen hesitantly reaching there and seeking advice about the security situation.
Law and order situation is no more a problem for the tourists intending to visit Kalam. From Landaki checkpost at the entrance to Swat up to Kalam, one has to go through 24 security checkposts jointly manned by army and police personnel. In some areas, soldiers of the Frontier Constabulary are also deployed.
“We are sorry for inconvenience but checking is for your own security,” read the billboards on Mingora-Kalam Road. Outsiders are supposed to enter names of all the passengers of the vehicle while entering Madyan, Bahrain and Kalam for security reasons. Every hotel providing accommodation to tourists also keeps a record of the guests. Police patrolling cars check every hotel to know who are staying there at night.
“Though many feel bothered at these checkpoints, these steps are a must for ensuring peace in the area. The practice, however, would create problems once people in large numbers start coming,” said a tourist Shaukat Ali.
He criticised the condition of road from Bahrain to Kalam, saying tourists in large numbers would never be attracted until the road was constructed properly. The 35 kilometres distance between Kalam and Bahrain takes two hours.
In summers when the entire country suffers from scorching heat, temperatures in Kalam remain around 20 centigrade. The streets and forests of Kalam used to bustle with life as tourists played loud music in vehicles and held parties in hotels. The main attractions were the River Swat, thick forests, glaciers and natural lakes.
“This town used to be crowded whenever I visited Kalam. Today, I see only a few outsiders,” said a disappointed Mohammad Iqbal, who came from Karachi along with his brother and two female members of his family. He, however, asked the authorities to take measures to attract the old visitors of Kalam.
“Tonight only two of our 74 rooms are booked,” said Asim, manager of a luxury hotel in Kalam. He said they had held meetings with the authorities and were planning to hold a cultural festival and a music concert in Kalam in coming months to send the message that Kalam is peaceful and ready to receive guests.
The authorities had offered 10-day free stay in hotels at Kalam during February. “The decision was taken in haste. This package should have been announced for the current month,” said a hotel owner.
No comments:
Post a Comment