The civil and military officials completed the rescue operation in Murree on Monday as snow has been removed from all the city roads and the arteries leading to it.
However, the routine activities of life could not be restored fully. The tourists trapped in the hilly resort have been evacuated and they are going back to their respective hometowns.
With tourists’ entry still banned, Murree has worn a deserted look. On the other hand, the weather once again has turned rough as the sky has become overcast and upper areas have started receiving flurries. The low lying areas are getting soaked with drizzle. Meanwhile Prime Minister Imran Khan said on Monday that the inquiry committee, formed to probe the Murree tragedy, should investigate and bring facts of the incident to the forefront as soon as possible.
The premier’s instructions came during a meeting in which the attendees were briefed on the Murree tragedy by Punjab government spokesperson Hassan Khawar. “Everything needs to be regulated in tourist places, emphasis should be laid on overcoming the lack of infrastructure in Murree. The whole issue should be handled in a contemporary manner,” the PM stressed. Earlier, a preliminary investigation report into the Murree tragedy revealed that the roads in and around the hill station had not been repaired for the last two years and that caused the snow accumulated in the crevices to harden causing the traffic jam.
The report, submitted to the Punjab government on January 9, further disclosed that a slippery spot outside a private cafe in Murree led to the main exit from the hill station. However, there was no government machinery to remove the snow that could have allowed the tourists to escape.
The forum also discussed the foreign funding case. SAPM Parliamentary Affairs Babar Awan and Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Farrukh Habib gave a briefing on the case and Finance Minister Shaukat Tareen briefed the forum on the economic situation.
“We have provided the details of our donors to the Election Commission. It has also brought out the funding sources of other parties. The Finance Supplementary Bill will be approved by the Assembly this week,” SAPM Awan said.
