Islamabad, January 10, 2022 (PPI-OT):The National Assembly was informed on Monday the Punjab government has constituted a committee to probe the Murree tragedy that took several lives in heavy snowfall. Speaking at a discussion on the Murree tragedy in the National Assembly, Minister for Information and Broadcasting Chaudhry Fawad Hussain said that civil administration and armed forces undertook rescue efforts and cleared all roads in twenty-four hours.

He said 1, 64,000 vehicles entered Murree during the last five days. He said it should also be kept in view that internal tourism is booming in Pakistan due to the government’s pro-tourism policies. Speaking on the floor of the House, Opposition Leader Shahbaz Sharif demanded a Judicial Commission to probe the deaths of tourists during heavy snowfall in Murree.

He said the Meteorological Department had predicted heavy snowfall in Murree and surrounding areas but the government did not chalk out any plan to protect tourists from heavy snowfall. He said Murree tragedy is a result of criminal and administrative negligence of the government.

Chairman Pakistan Peoples’ Party Bilawal Bhutto Zardari also demanded a judicial inquiry into the Murree tragedy to evolve a strategy to avert such incidents in future. He asked the Speaker to use its good offices to convince the government to form a Judicial Commission to investigate the Murree incident.

PTI MNA from Murree Sadaqat Ali Abbasi said deaths in Murree incident occurred due to excessive amount of carbon monoxide, accumulated in vehicles when passengers kept engines of their vehicles on to protect themselves from snowstorm.

He said the entire civil administration and Rescue-1122 services tirelessly worked to rescue people. He said rescue work hindered due to fallen trees and electricity towers but despite all that the administrations successfully opened roads in minimum possible time. He said it was unprecedented snowfall ranging from five to six feet.

Dilating upon rescue efforts, Sadaqat Ali Abbasi said ten thousand food packets as well as cooked food were served to thousands of people. He said the government has decided to build a small road at Jheka Gali to avert traffic mess in future.

He said it has also been decided to upgrade Murree to the level of District and establish Kohasar Development Authority to ensure better facilities to the tourists. Salahuddin said it is a national tragedy and there should be no politics on it. He, however, said the government should have issued a red alert to save visitors, but unfortunately the administration failed to rescue the people well in time.

Asad Mahmood of Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal said his party directed his party workers and students of Madrassas to start to rescue the people. He said all Madrassas were opened for the tourists to protect them. He said NDMA, PMDA had predicted in advance about this snowfall but the government did not take effective measures to protect the civilians from heavy snowfall.

Minister for Energy Hammad Azhar said that electricity supply was restored in Murree within fourteen hours. He suggested that advance bookings of hotel rooms should be made mandatory for tourists who want to visit Murree to avoid traffic mess and rush. Those who also spoke on the occasion, Agha Hassan Baloch, Syed Khurshid Shah, Ameer Haider Hoti, Riaz Fatiyana, Mohsin Dawar, Sahibzada Sibghatullah, Maulana Abdul Akbar Chitrali, Murtaza Javed Abbasi and Munawar Ali Talpur.

Earlier, the House offered fateha for the departed souls of those who died entrapped in heavy snowfall in Murree. The House also offered fateha for the departed souls of the brother of Chairman Senate Sadiq Sanjrani and others. Maulana Akbar Chitrali led the fateha. The House will now meet again tomorrow at 4 p.m.

For more information, contact:
Ministry of Information and Broadcasting
Government of Pakistan
4th Floor, Cabinet Block, Pak. Secretariat, Islamabad, Pakistan
Tel: +92-51-9103557
Email: info@moib.gov.pk
Website: http://www.moib.gov.pk