PESHAWAR: In view of the increasing incidents of boat capsizing at tourist destinations in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the district administration of Upper Swat has decided to conduct a comprehensive survey of boats operating across the district.
According to the district administration, the survey will examine which boats meet prescribed safety standards and which pose a potential threat to the lives of tourists. Boats found unfit or in violation of safety norms will be banned from operating.
The administration stated that the fitness and operational capacity of all boats operating at various tourist spots in Upper Swat will be thoroughly reviewed to ensure the safety of lives and property of visitors.
In this connection, the process of registering boating services at Mahodand Lake — one of the most visited tourist attractions in the region — has also been initiated, while no boat will be allowed to operate without a No Objection Certificate (NOC).
Officials said that records of all boating operators, along with necessary information and relevant documents, are being collected. The complete data will be forwarded to the Tehsil Municipal Officer (TMO) for verification, certification and issuance of NOCs.
The district administration clarified that the objective of these measures is to make boating activities in Mahodand and other tourist destinations safe and to regulate them in accordance with legal requirements, so that any untoward incident can be avoided in future.
