Swat Valley is one of the most picturesque sites in the northern mountain ranges of the country, and according to local enthusiasts, it competes with the world for that title. It is certainly true that the valley drew large amounts of tourists from around the world before the Afghan conflict and even after the conflict, people - mostly nationals - traveled to the valley often. The Taliban and the Swat operation put an end to that, but it was always posited - especially by the government that once the hostilities cease and normalcy return, the numbers would soon return. Swat and it’s people still wait for that day to come.

According to Manager Tourism Corporation Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (TCKP), Zara Alam, repair and rehabilitation work is in full swing. She said that the Corporation has four ongoing developmental schemes in Swat region including rehabilitation of Bahrain Park, acquisition of land for Rest Houses at Saulatan and Gabeen Jaba, Tehsil Matta and establishment of picnic spots for tourist facilitation at suitable places in Malam Jabba. The federal tourism body, PTDC is similarly involved in uplifting tourist facilities. Yet the efforts, as appreciable as they are, do not reap any substantial reward because the regions basics are still un-repaired. The prime issue is infrastructure, road and bridges that were damaged during the military operation and the subsequent floods are still in the same state. The government’s rehabilitative work is moving at a snail’s pace, and as a result access to the valley is limited. Those intrepid few who make it there at meet with sights of war and natural disasters, which have not been cleared up, and do not make for good tourism.

The Swat community, which relies heavily on tourism, is sliding further into economic ruin. The promises made to the people of Sawat havn’t been fullfilled. Then the government has the gall to wonder why people harbor anti-state militants.