Latest news with #KhadimHussain
Gulf Today
5 days ago
- Gulf Today
Pakistan bans new hotel construction around tourist lakes
Pakistan will ban for five years the construction of new hotels around picturesque lakes in the north that attract tens of thousands of tourists each year, a government agency said. Renowned for its breathtaking scenery, Gilgit Baltistan draws tens of thousands of visitors annually, with snow-capped peaks rising above the ancient Silk Road and highways threading through cherry orchards, glaciers, and vivid blue lakes. Unregulated construction of hotels and guest houses in Gilgit-Baltistan — which boasts around 13,000 glaciers, more than any other country on Earth outside the polar regions — has sparked major concerns about environmental degradation. The natural beauty of the region has made it a top tourist destination, with towering peaks looming over the Old Silk Road, and a highway transporting tourists between cherry orchards, glaciers, and ice-blue lakes. However, in recent years construction has exploded led by companies from outside the region, straining water and power resources, and increasing waste. "If we let them construct hotels at such pace, there will be a forest of concrete," Khadim Hussain, a senior official at the Gilgit-Baltistan Environmental Protection Authority told AFP on Friday. "People don't visit here to see concrete; people come here to enjoy natural beauty," he added. Last month, a foreign tourist posted a video on Instagram — which quickly went viral — alleging wastewater was being discharged by a hotel into Lake Attabad, which serves as a freshwater source for Hunza. The next day, authorities fined the hotel more than $5,000. Asif Sakhi, a political activist and resident of the Hunza Valley, welcomed the ban. "We have noticed rapid changes in the name of tourism and development," he said, adding hotel construction was "destroying our natural lakes and rivers." Shah Nawaz, a hotel manager and local resident of the valley, also praised the ban, saying he believes "protecting the environment and natural beauty is everyone's responsibility." Agence France-Presse
The Star
5 days ago
- The Star
Pakistan bans new hotel construction around tourist lakes
The Gilgit-Baltistan region in Pakistan is a top tourist destination and boasts about 13,000 glaciers. - Photo: AFP GILGIT, (Pakistan): Pakistan will ban for five years the construction of new hotels around picturesque lakes in the north that attract tens of thousands of tourists each year, a government agency said. Unregulated construction of hotels and guest houses in Gilgit-Baltistan – which boasts around 13,000 glaciers, more than any other country on earth outside the polar regions – has sparked major concerns about environmental degradation. The natural beauty of the region has made it a top tourist destination, with towering peaks looming over the Old Silk Road, and a highway transporting tourists between cherry orchards, glaciers and ice-blue lakes. However, construction has surged in recent years, led by companies from outside the region, straining water and power resources, and increasing waste. 'If we let them construct hotels at such pace, there will be a forest of concrete,' Khadim Hussain, a senior official at the Gilgit-Baltistan Environmental Protection Authority, told AFP news agency on Friday (July 18). 'People don't visit here to see concrete; people come here to enjoy natural beauty,' he added. In June, a foreign tourist posted a video on Instagram – which quickly went viral – alleging wastewater was being discharged by a hotel into Lake Attabad, which serves as a freshwater source for Hunza. The next day, the authorities fined the hotel more than US$5,000 (S$6,400). Asif Sakhi, a political activist and resident of the Hunza Valley, welcomed the ban. 'We have noticed rapid changes in the name of tourism and development,' he said, adding that hotel construction was 'destroying our natural lakes and rivers'. Shah Nawaz, a hotel manager and local resident of the valley, also praised the ban, saying he believes 'protecting the environment and natural beauty is everyone's responsibility'. - AFP
Business Recorder
6 days ago
- Business Recorder
Pakistan bans new hotel construction around tourist lakes
GILGIT: Pakistan will ban for five years the construction of new hotels around picturesque lakes in the north that attract tens of thousands of tourists each year, a government agency said. Unregulated construction of hotels and guest houses in Gilgit-Baltistan – which boasts around 13,000 glaciers, more than any other country on Earth outside the polar regions – has sparked major concerns about environmental degradation. The natural beauty of the region has made it a top tourist destination, with towering peaks looming over the Old Silk Road, and a highway transporting tourists between cherry orchards, glaciers, and ice-blue lakes. However, in recent years construction has exploded led by companies from outside the region, straining water and power resources, and increasing waste. 'If we let them construct hotels at such pace, there will be a forest of concrete,' Khadim Hussain, a senior official at the Gilgit-Baltistan Environmental Protection Authority told AFP on Friday. 'People don't visit here to see concrete; people come here to enjoy natural beauty,' he added. Last month, a foreign tourist posted a video on Instagram – which quickly went viral – alleging wastewater was being discharged by a hotel into Lake Attabad, which serves as a freshwater source for Hunza. The next day, authorities fined the hotel more than $5,000. Nine dead, 14 missing as flash flood sweeps tourists in Swat River Asif Sakhi, a political activist and resident of the Hunza Valley, welcomed the ban. 'We have noticed rapid changes in the name of tourism and development,' he said, adding hotel construction was 'destroying our natural lakes and rivers'. Shah Nawaz, a hotel manager and local resident of the valley, also praised the ban, saying he believes 'protecting the environment and natural beauty is everyone's responsibility'.
Straits Times
6 days ago
- Straits Times
Pakistan bans new hotel construction around tourist lakes
Find out what's new on ST website and app. The Gilgit-Baltistan region in Pakistan is a top tourist destination and boasts about 13,000 glaciers. GILGIT, Pakistan - Pakistan will ban for five years the construction of new hotels around picturesque lakes in the north that attract tens of thousands of tourists each year, a government agency said. Unregulated construction of hotels and guest houses in Gilgit-Baltistan – which boasts around 13,000 glaciers, more than any other country on Earth outside the polar regions – has sparked major concerns about environmental degradation. The natural beauty of the region has made it a top tourist destination, with towering peaks looming over the Old Silk Road, and a highway transporting tourists between cherry orchards, glaciers, and ice-blue lakes. However, in recent years construction has exploded led by companies from outside the region, straining water and power resources, and increasing waste. 'If we let them construct hotels at such pace, there will be a forest of concrete,' Mr Khadim Hussain, a senior official at the Gilgit-Baltistan Environmental Protection Authority told AFP on July 18. 'People don't visit here to see concrete; people come here to enjoy natural beauty,' he added. In June, a foreign tourist posted a video on Instagram – which quickly went viral – alleging wastewater was being discharged by a hotel into Lake Attabad, which serves as a freshwater source for Hunza. The next day, authorities fined the hotel more than US$5,000 (S$6,420). Mr Asif Sakhi, a political activist and resident of the Hunza Valley, welcomed the ban. 'We have noticed rapid changes in the name of tourism and development,' he said, adding hotel construction was 'destroying our natural lakes and rivers'. Mr Shah Nawaz, a hotel manager and local resident of the valley, also praised the ban, saying he believes 'protecting the environment and natural beauty is everyone's responsibility'. AFP
France 24
6 days ago
- France 24
Pakistan bans new hotel construction around tourist lakes
Unregulated construction of hotels and guest houses in Gilgit-Baltistan -- which boasts around 13,000 glaciers, more than any other country on Earth outside the polar regions -- has sparked major concerns about environmental degradation. The natural beauty of the region has made it a top tourist destination, with towering peaks looming over the Old Silk Road, and a highway transporting tourists between cherry orchards, glaciers, and ice-blue lakes. However, in recent years construction has exploded led by companies from outside the region, straining water and power resources, and increasing waste. "If we let them construct hotels at such pace, there will be a forest of concrete,' Khadim Hussain, a senior official at the Gilgit-Baltistan Environmental Protection Authority told AFP on Friday. "People don't visit here to see concrete; people come here to enjoy natural beauty," he added. Last month, a foreign tourist posted a video on Instagram -- which quickly went viral -- alleging wastewater was being discharged by a hotel into Lake Attabad, which serves as a freshwater source for Hunza. The next day, authorities fined the hotel more than $5,000. Asif Sakhi, a political activist and resident of the Hunza Valley, welcomed the ban. "We have noticed rapid changes in the name of tourism and development," he said, adding hotel construction was "destroying our natural lakes and rivers". Shah Nawaz, a hotel manager and local resident of the valley, also praised the ban, saying he believes "protecting the environment and natural beauty is everyone's responsibility".
