MURREE: Commissioner Rawalpindi Mohammad Mahmood visited Murree to hold a meeting with traders’ representatives, hotel associations and other stakeholders regarding the demand of traders to lift the ban on tourism in the area, former tehsil nazim Mohammad Khurshid Abbasi told reporters. The meeting was held at the Resource Centre.

“Mr Mahmood assured hoteliers and traders that the issue will be raised with authorities at National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) for resolution,” Assistant Commissioner Commissioner Murree Zahid Hussain told Dawn.

Mr Abbasi, Hotel Association Murree President Haji Mohammad Khalil, Raja Haroon Mahfooz, Hotel Association Murree Secretary General Shehzad Abbasi and Anjuman-i-Tajiran President Raja Tufail said thousands of workers were going through a hard time due to unemployment because tourism in the region had stopped.

“Tourists visit Murree during the two months of summer when tourism is at its peak which creates employment.

The hotel industry has been devastated by the lockdown, which has led to unemployment for many locals.

The hotel industry is the only source of livelihood for them and they are involved in two months of business all year round,” they added.

The AC said the Punjab government was preparing standard operating procedures (SOPs) for tourism activities in the area and action would be taken after the final decision.

Published in Dawn, July 18th, 2020