Swat - Due to the corona lockdown, Swat tourist spots including Kalam, Mahodand, Bahrain, Marghazar, Malam Jabba, and Gabeen Jabba remain closed during Eid ul Fitr to prevent the spread of pandemic in the district.
Complete ban was witnessed at tourist spots of the valley during the lockdown, Assistant Commissioners Bahrain and Kabal were seen on roads, no tourist from outside the valley was allowed to enter the scenic valley during Eid holidays.
According to the district administration Swat, around 4,000 tourists’ vehicles had to return from various check posts due to the strict lockdown.
Divisional administration of Malakand under the supervision of Commissioner Malakand Zaheer ul Islam has successfully ensured implementation of SOPs and guidelines through divisional and district administrations, due to which a visible change was witnessed in numbers of corona patients during the lockdown period.
Police and Swat Levies personnel were deployed at main entry check points at Landaki, Shamizai bridge Ghoragat, Ranzara and Karakar to prevent the entry of tourists to scenic spots of Kalam, Madayn, Malam Jabba, Bahrain, Margazar and others tourist destinations during the Eid holidays.
Commissioner Malakand Zaheer ul Islam told this correspondent that the decision was taken in the light of the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) decision about lockdown from May 8 to 16.
He said the purpose of the lockdown is to protect people from coronavirus.
On the other hand, hotel owners have shown concerns over the government’s decision to stop tourists from visiting Swat. They said that more than 30,000 families would suffer owing to the ban. They said that it was the second year that the government has imposed a ban on tourists during Eidul Fitr holidays due to which they suffered financially.
