Pakistan: Track to Kalam’s Andrab Lake is being cleared for tourists
Efforts are underway to operationalise the jeepable track leading to Andrab Lake in Swat’s Kalam Valley to facilitate tourists during the Eid al-Azha holidays.
The restoration work on the track leading to the famous tourist destination is progressing rapidly under the directives of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Secretary Tourism Saadat Hassan and the Director General of the Upper Swat Development Authority (USDA), Shozab Abbas.
According to USDA spokesperson Saeedur Rehman, heavy machinery was being used for the third consecutive day to clear the track.
The 27-kilometre-long jeepable road has been severely affected by recent landslides and glacial movement, which have blocked several sections with large rocks, debris, and ice masses.
However, the ongoing operation has cleared multiple critical points, improving accessibility. Shozab Abbas said that Andrab Lake was among the key tourist attractions of Swat, and restoration of access roads was being prioritised to facilitate visitors.
He directed the field teams to accelerate the rehabilitation work so that the route can be fully restored before Eid al-Adha and the peak tourism season. He said that safe and improved access to tourist destinations was being ensured.
“All available resources are being utilised to promote tourism and provide better facilities for visitors in the region,” he added.
Kalam Valley is renowned worldwide for its breathtaking natural beauty and tourism potential. Thousands of tourists from Pakistan and abroad visit the valley every year.
The region is home to more than 150 glacial lakes, attracting adventure lovers for hiking and trekking experiences. Previously, Andrab Lake was accessible only through a long and challenging trek, but with the improved jeepable track, tourists can now reach the lake via 4×4 jeeps, making it significantly more accessible while promoting sustainable tourism in the area.
Reference Link:- https://www.dawn.com/news/2003323
Zamir Ahmed Awan is the founder and Chair of the Global Silk Route Research Alliance, a think tank in Islamabad. He studied engineering at Shanghai University in the 1980s, and years later he went back to China as Pakistan's science counsellor in Beijing, from 2010 until 2016, working on science and higher education cooperation between the two countries.…
