Lahore, August 19, 2025: Heavy monsoon rains, landslides, and cloudburst incidents have forced the suspension of tourism activities across Punjab’s northern destinations, including Murree, the Salt Range, and surrounding areas, officials confirmed on Tuesday.
Punjab Tourism Secretary Raja Jahangir Anwar said the ongoing extreme weather, linked to climate change, has not only paralyzed the tourism sector but also inflicted substantial economic losses.
“Both domestic and international tourism have suffered,” he said. “The Patriata cable car service has been closed after one of its pylons collapsed during torrential rains. For the past two days, tourist operations in Murree, Kallar Kahar, Chakwal’s lakes, and other popular sites have been at a complete standstill.”
Anwar noted that large numbers of visitors from Punjab’s plains and Sindh usually flock to these hill stations during the monsoon season, but all such activities have now come to a halt.
Despite the setbacks, the tourism secretary stressed that the sector remains a priority.
“Tourism cannot be abandoned because of climate change,” he said. “The Punjab government has allocated Rs33 billion for new tourist attractions, restoration of heritage sites, and infrastructure upgrades in northern regions.”
According to Anwar, development projects are under way in Murree, Kallar Kahar, and the Salt Range, while Fort Munro is being transformed into a prime hill station.
The government is also expanding facilities in Rajanpur, Layyah, and Multan, with special emphasis on promoting desert tourism in South Punjab, particularly in Cholistan.
Meanwhile, the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) has issued an advisory urging citizens to avoid traveling to northern tourist spots until weather conditions improve. Travelers have been asked to monitor forecasts and plan trips cautiously to prevent accidents.
According to official figures, since June 2025 at least 162 people have died and hundreds have been injured in monsoon-related incidents across Punjab, with the Salt Range and Chakwal among the worst-hit regions. Cloudbursts and flash floods have caused widespread devastation, damaging infrastructure and cutting off access to several tourist sites.
