Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Senior Minister for Tourism Muhammad Atif Khan on Sunday has inaugurated the Margalla ridge trail and walking track at Margalla Hills National Park that will lead up to northern province.

The 44-kilometre long Trail-5 traverses between Margalla Hills National Park, Islamabad, and Haripur district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, which is being developed for visitors and tourists. According to officials, over 35-kilometre track lies in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

The minister said the KP government had prepared a master plan for the development of new tourist sites under which 10 tourist destinations, including Kumrat, Kalam, Nathiagali and others would be restored on modern lines.

He added the Kumrat tourist spot would be developed as a national park to showcase the province as a tourism brand to the world to attract more tourists.

Islamabad Mayor Sheikh Ansar Aziz, KP Secretary Sports and Tourism Shahid Zaman, Commissioner Malakand Zaheer-ul-Islam, Chairman Wildlife Management Board Dr Aneesur Rahman, General Manager Tourist Information Centres (TICs) Muhammad Ali Syed were also present on the occasion.

Trail-5

The trail has three different interconnected paths. One is the normal one which has a spring called Ficus Spring and the last one is named as Trail-5 Dangerous. It is unique among the popular trails of Margalla Hills Islamabad as its terrain is at some point steep and at some point plain. So one can have a good combination of hard and relax time with the exception of the Trail 5 Dangerous.

The Ficus Spring has a refreshing experience. One can refill water bottles with the natural and fresh/clean water from the spring and can even splash some water on the face to refresh.

Most part of the trail passes through the picturesque, calm, clean and green areas of Haripur in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa with available camping spots.