Hundreds Dead at Tourist Spots – What Are Pakistan’s Tourism Departments Doing?
By: Tazeen Akhtar
The recent wave of rains and flash floods in Pakistan’s tourist regions has once again claimed the lives of innocent visitors. Tragically, it is often tourists who bear the brunt of such natural disasters. At a time like this, it is crucial to ask: what role have Pakistan’s tourism departments played in informing and warning travelers? Have they issued any advisories discouraging travel to these areas during dangerous weather conditions?
Unfortunately, the answer is a resounding no. The Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation (PTDC) and the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Culture and Tourism Authority have remained completely indifferent. Their official websites offer no warnings, safety precautions, or information about weather conditions, emergency contacts, or safe shelters.
These departments operate numerous motels and guesthouses in tourist zones, but they are often occupied by the families of influential individuals. The general public remains unaware of or denied access to these so-called “facilities.” Most tourists caught in recent disasters had no information or support from either of these state institutions—despite their mandate to serve and guide travelers.
PTDC, as a federal body, should have taken a leading role in this crisis. Instead, its leadership seems to be preoccupied with attending diplomatic events or hosting ambassadors in plush offices. PTDC has failed not just in this emergency, but consistently in serving domestic tourists. It is nearly impossible for the average citizen to book a room at a PTDC motel without pulling strings through a high-ranking official. As a result, people bypass PTDC altogether and make their own arrangements.
The situation is disgraceful. Hundreds of tourists have died or been injured, yet not a single official statement has been issued by the heads of these tourism departments or their respective ministers. Authorities, especially those promoting tourism in the northern regions of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Gilgit-Baltistan, never miss an opportunity to advertise Pakistan’s scenic beauty—but they never talk about the crumbling infrastructure. They ignore the fact that PTDC’s motels and guesthouses are essentially off-limits to the common man.
Throughout the recent disaster, there was no visible coordination between the tourism departments and district administrations or the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA). This gives the impression that these departments are being run by thoroughly irresponsible and negligent officials.
Tourism departments must proactively monitor infrastructure, weather conditions, and climate changes across tourist destinations and provide regular briefings to the government. Their staff should be available on the ground to guide travelers and coordinate with local authorities during crises—yet in this emergency, there was no trace of them.
Such gross negligence makes these departments equally responsible for the loss of life. The Government of Pakistan and the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa administration must initiate strict action against these officials. Ideally, the officers themselves should accept their failure and resign before being shown the door.
According to NDMA data, 234 lives have tragically been lost nationwide, with 596 people injured, 826 houses damaged, and 203 livestock killed. In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa alone, 56 people died—including 16 men, 10 women, and 30 children—many of them in Swat and other tourist spots. Among the victims was an entire family from Daska, Punjab.
