Tourists barred from visiting Lake Saiful Muluk amid heavy rain forecast

The district administration has prohibited tourists from traveling to the popular Lake Saiful Muluk, citing forecasts of significant monsoon rainfall and the possibility of cloudbursts in the Kaghan Valley. The ban, effective immediately, was implemented at the request of the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) to safeguard visitors.

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The district administration has imposed the ban at the request of the NDMA and the PDMA to ensure the safety of tourists, as heavy rains and possible cloudbursts are expected in the coming days.

Balakot Assistant Commissioner Hasrat Khan confirmed the ban, stating that orders have been issued to halt all travel to the lake until further notice. The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) issued the warning, predicting adverse weather conditions in the coming days.

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The district administration has already placed all its departments and Rescue 1122 on high alert in Kaghan Valley. In such a situation, travel to Lake Saiful Muluk is not dangerous.

However, the business community in Kaghan Valley has appealed to the district administration to reverse its decision. Hussan Deen, chairman of a local traders' body, argued that the weather in the valley, particularly in Naran, remains pleasant and that travel to Lake Saiful Muluk is not inherently dangerous. He emphasized that such restrictions severely impact their businesses, which rely on a short tourist season lasting only three to four months annually.

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Our business activities are limited to only three to four months each year. Such restrictions on travel to tourist attractions discourage visitors and adversely affect our businesses.