MANSEHRA: The dist­rict administration on Fri­­day barred tourists from travelling to Lake Saiful Muluk after the Pakistan Meteorological Depart­m­ent (PMD) forecast more monsoon rain and possible cloudbursts in Naran, the commercial hub of Kaghan Valley. “The district administration has imposed the ban at the request of the NDMA and the PDMA to ensure the safety of tourists, as heavy rains and possible cloudbursts are expected in the coming days,” Balakot As­­sistant Commissioner Has­­rat Khan told reporters. An order issued by the district administration stat­­ed that, in light of the PMD’s forecast of heavy rainfall and possible cloudbursts, all travel to Lake Saiful Muluk would remain banned until further orders. Meanwhile, the business community in Kaghan Valley urged the district administration to reconsider its decision to suspend travel to the popular tourist destination. “The district administration has already placed all its departments and Rescue 1122 on high alert in Kaghan Valley. In such a situation, travel to Lake Saiful Muluk is not dangerous,” Hussan Deen, chai­­rman of a traders’ body in Kaghan Valley, said. He said the weather in the valley, particularly in Naran, remained pleasant and tourists should continue to visit the area. “Our business activities are limited to only three to four months each year. Such restrictions on travel to tourist attractions discourage visitors and adve­rsely affect our busines­ses,” Mr Deen said. _Published in Dawn, August 1st, 2026_

Rescue 1122 official says several houses, hotels and roads were damaged, posing a serious threat to nearby settlements and stranded tourists en route to Kaghan valley.

PESHAWAR: More than 1.2 million tourists visited Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's major tourist spots over the past six days, according to figures released by the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Tourism Authority. The authority said Swat Valley received the highest number of visitors, with more than 533,000 tourists arriving during the period. Naran Kaghan attracted over 272,000 tourists, while around 251,700 people visited the scenic Kumrat Valley. Meanwhile, Galiyat welcomed more than 231,000 tourists, reflecting a strong influx of visitors to the province's popular tourist destinations. The post Over 1.2mln tourists visit KP’s scenic destinations in six days appeared first on HUM News English.

ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Communications Aleem Khan on Tuesday approved the construction of a new, state-of-the-art motorway via Mansehra, Kaghan, Naran, Jhal Khand, and Chilas (MNJC) to provide a safe alternative route to the Karakoram Highway (KKH). The decision was taken in a meeting of the National Highway Authority (NHA) held under the chairmanship of the minister, where key decisions were approved to modernise the country’s transport infrastructure. The secretary of communications and NHA Chairman Capt (retd) Asadullah Khan were also present. During the meeting, the federal minister was briefed on ongoing and new projects. Officials told the meeting that the MNJC motorway would be 172km in length, and that the route would reduce travel distance on the KKH by up to 120 kilometres. The project will be completed in two phases, the minister said. In the first phase, the motorway will be built from Mansehra to Kaghan, Naran, and Babusar Top, while the second phase will cover the section from Babusar Top to Chilas. A major highlight of the project is the construction of the 13.5km-long Babusar Tunnel, which will be the longest tunnel in Pakistan. Designed with future demand in mind, the four-lane motorway will have the capacity to expand to six lanes. Modern rest areas will be built every 25-30km for motorists, and freight terminals will be established at both ends of the motorway. Highlighting the economic significance of the project, the minister said that traditionally, trade from the Arabian Sea to China via existing routes was time-consuming and resulted in significant financial costs. The new motorway would directly link western China to the ports of Karachi and Gwadar, the minister added. He said the network would serve as the fastest, shortest, and most cost-effective route from the Arabian Sea to western China, drastically reducing transit times and costs while proving to be a “real game-changer” for the sustainable development of Gwadar Port. The minister directed NHA officials to finalise all technical aspects of the project within the specified timeline.

Federal Minister for Communications Abdul Aleem Khan announced a new Mansehra–Naran–Jhalakand–Chilas (MNJC) Motorway during a recent meeting of the National Highway Authority (NHA). The motorway will connect Mansehra, Kaghan, Naran, Jhalakand, and Chilas. During the meeting, the federal minister stated that the project will be completed in two phases. The first phase will involve the construction of the motorway from Mansehra to Kaghan, Naran, and Babusar Top. In the second and final phase, the motorway will be extended from Babusar Top to Chilas. The minister said the motorway would serve as a safer and more efficient alternative to the Karakoram Highway, reducing the travel distance between the MNJC Motorway and the Karakoram Highway by 120 kilometres. According to Aleem Khan, the project holds significant economic importance, as it will connect western China with the ports of Karachi and Gwadar. He added that the motorway will provide the fastest, shortest, and most convenient route from western China to the Arabian Sea and could prove to be a game changer for the sustainable development of Gwadar Port. The federal minister also informed the meeting that the project would include a 13.5-kilometre-long Babusar Tunnel, which is expected to be the longest tunnel in Pakistan. The total length of the MNJC Motorway will be 172 kilometers, with provisions for future expansion from four lanes to six lanes. The NHA also plans to establish rest areas every 25 to 30 kilometers along the motorway, while trucking terminals will be constructed on both sides of the route to facilitate the transportation of goods. Chairman NHA also briefed the Federal Minister of Communication on important issues relating to NHA. The post New Mansehra–Chilas motorway announced at NHA meeting appeared first on HUM News English.

All the news that's fit to print, and quite a lot that isn't. Holder of several awards, and winner of a selection box of Shippams' fish paste from the Daily Express, but it's the Legion d'Honneur I'm...

Located at 10,578 feet in Pakistan’s Kaghan Valley, Saif ul Malook is a glacial lake famous for its emerald waters and the legendary...

The Himalayas were shaped when the Indian and Eurasian Plates collided, and active orogenic processes created the Upper Kaghan Valley, located in the Higher ...