Heavy Snowfall in Naran: Roads Covered in Snow; Questions Raised Over NHA and KDA Arrangements as Tourists and Locals Face Difficulties.

Naran (Special Report): Heavy snowfall over the past two days has covered roads in the popular tourist destination of Naran and its adjoining link routes, while increased slipperiness has made travelling difficult for tourists and the local population.
According to reports, no machinery or staff of the National Highway Authority (NHA) was present in Naran Bazaar during the daytime today to clear the accumulated snow, allowing snow to continue building up on the roads. Later, a machine and personnel from the Kaghan Development Authority (KDA) reached the area and carried out snow-clearing work during the day.
However, a considerable amount of snow had accumulated on the roads again by night. According to local sources, effective machinery and staff from both the NHA and KDA were not visibly present to ensure continuous snow removal, raising concerns about the arrangements for keeping roads clear.
A large number of tourists, including families, are currently in Naran and are facing considerable difficulties while travelling due to snow-covered and slippery roads. Hotel owners, local traders and residents are also being affected by the situation, which is disrupting routine activities and creating concerns about tourism-related movement.
Members of the public argue that providing basic facilities and keeping roads accessible during snowfall are fundamental responsibilities of the relevant authorities, particularly at an important tourist destination like Naran, where visitors are charged various taxes and fees. They maintain that both the NHA and the Kaghan Development Authority (KDA) must fulfil their responsibilities effectively during the snowfall season to prevent inconvenience to tourists and local residents.
Questions have particularly been raised over the reported absence of NHA machinery and staff, as well as the lack of continuous and effective snow-clearing arrangements by the KDA. According to local residents, without proper coordination and a joint strategy between the two authorities, maintaining road access in an important tourist destination like Naran could become increasingly difficult.
Members of the public have questioned why basic facilities, such as snow clearance from roads, are not being ensured if millions and even crores of rupees are collected in taxes and fees from tourist areas. They say that facilitating tourists and keeping roads accessible for the local population should be among the top priorities of the relevant authorities.
Local residents, traders and tourists have appealed to the Prime Minister of Pakistan, the Governor of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and other concerned senior authorities to ensure the immediate deployment of snow-clearing machinery and personnel in Naran and adjoining tourist areas. They have also demanded an immediate review of the performance of the relevant NHA and KDA officials and called for departmental and legal action wherever negligence is established.
The public has further demanded that machinery and personnel from both authorities remain operational around the clock throughout the snowfall season. They have called for regular road monitoring, better coordination between the departments and immediate snow-removal arrangements whenever required to prevent further difficulties for tourists, residents and the local business community.
The key question remains: If the relevant authorities are present to collect taxes and fees from tourist destinations, why are the NHA and KDA's machinery and personnel not fully visible and operational when it comes to providing basic facilities and keeping roads accessible during snowfall?