A few days back I visited lake Saif-ul-Malook. The mesmerising beauty of awestruck lake was marred by carelessness of visitors and local people. Once the Angelic Lake, it was presenting a totally different look now.
Shopping bags floating in its water, horses’ dung scattered at many places. People throwing wrappers here and there. Even those using boats were also polluting the water throwing different things in the water. I was flabbergasted to see that local administration was absent.
Arrangement for the management of waste material was insufficient as compared to number of people present there. Dustbins were not placed. The refreshment area was giving a look of Gawalmandi, Lahore. Everybody was there to eat something in hurry and flurry causing panic in vendors. The smoke of make-shift hotels using coal for cooking changed the atmosphere, and the silence and peace – once the hallmark of Siaf-ul-Maook – were gone.
People don’t visit these places to see fish markets there. They want peace and calm while visiting natural gifts of God. Another disturbing enigma present there was lot of people pressing visitors hard to hear the tale of Saif-ul-Malook with different options of payment. These people were annoying sight-seers and nobody was there to check or stop them. Moreover, the jeep drivers push people to quickly come back, alternatively they charge double fare, another menace to be checked by authorities.
Tourism in our country has been unable to flourish owing to our insincerity towards tourists. There is a dire need to educate our masses how to behave while being a tourist and act with complete civic sense and responsibility during visiting natural beauties.
IFTIKHAR SHAHEEN MIRZA
Islamabad
Once the pristine waters, polluted by tourists….. very sad.
Farah
London
The skyblue coloru water of Safe ul Malook is a real beauty watch. welldone….
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