ISLAMABAD – Tourism in Punjab’s Salt Range, Murree, and northern destinations has been suspended after torrential monsoon rains and landslides disrupted travel and safety, officials confirmed on Tuesday.
Punjab Tourism Secretary Raja Jahangir Anwar said climate change has dealt a severe blow to the province’s tourism sector, causing significant economic losses. “Domestic and international tourism have both suffered. The cable car service in Patriata had to be closed after one of its pylons collapsed during heavy rains,” he revealed.
For the past two days, all tourist activities in Murree, Kallar Kahar, Chakwal’s lakes, and surrounding areas have been at a complete standstill. Normally, thousands of visitors from Punjab’s plains and Sindh travel to these destinations during monsoon season, but operations have been shut down due to the risks.
Despite the crisis, Anwar emphasized that tourism development would not stop. He said the Punjab government has allocated Rs33 billion for upgrading tourist infrastructure, restoring heritage sites, and developing new attractions. Major upgrades are underway in Murree, Kallar Kahar, and the Salt Range, while Fort Munro is being transformed into a prime hill station.
The government is also promoting desert tourism in South Punjab, including new facilities in Rajanpur, Layyah, Multan, and Cholistan.
Meanwhile, the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) has advised citizens to avoid travel to northern areas amid risks of further cloudbursts and landslides. Since June 2025, at least 162 people have died and hundreds have been injured in monsoon-related incidents, particularly in Chakwal and the Salt Range.
