According to the central president of Pasban-e-Watan Pakistan and former Minister for Transport and Tourism, the tourism sector in Azad Kashmir is on the brink of collapse due to a completely destroyed road network and a severe lack of basic facilities, forcing many tourists to abandon their journeys midway and putting their lives at risk.
In a statement on Monday, the former minister said that mismanagement and poor planning have pushed the naturally beautiful region into a crisis, causing it to lose its true identity. He stressed that no sustainable policy was ever formulated for the promotion of tourism, nor were development projects designed keeping the ground realities in mind.
Detailing the perilous state of infrastructure, the former official highlighted that most link roads are dilapidated and riddled with potholes, making travel extremely difficult and dangerous due to landslides. He noted that essential tourist facilities such as clean drinking water, quality washrooms, proper accommodation, parking spaces, and medical aid are virtually non-existent.
A major concern was expressed regarding environmental degradation at tourist spots. The former minister pointed to the ineffective drainage systems, where piles of garbage and widespread pollution are severely damaging the area’s natural beauty, proving disastrous for both the tourism industry and the local ecosystem.
This decline in tourism is severely harming the local economy. The hotel industry, transport operators, guides, artisans, and other small businesses are facing severe hardships. The former minister warned that the drop in tourist arrivals has endangered the livelihoods of thousands of families, leading to increased unemployment, poverty, and economic instability.
Stressing that tourism is deeply linked to the region’s economic survival, the central president of Pasban-e-Watan Pakistan urged the Azad Kashmir and federal governments to recognize tourism as an industry and implement emergency measures. He called for a dedicated budget for the immediate construction and rehabilitation of roads, a modern transport system, and the promotion of investment through public-private partnerships.