Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Relocates Jeep Terminal and Restaurants to Protect Saiful Muluk Lake

The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Wildlife Department has begun relocating shops, restaurants and a jeep terminal at Saiful Muluk Lake to a designated service area about one kilometre away, in an effort to shield the popular tourist site from pollution and unplanned construction.

Officials say hundreds of four-wheel-drive vehicles park beside the lake during the peak tourist season, while shops and eateries have also taken a toll on the surrounding natural environment. Abdul Rashid Tanoli, Sub-Divisional Wildlife Officer at Saiful Muluk National Park, said the existing parking area has been cleared and the process of shifting it away from the lake is under way.

According to Tanoli, the department is setting up temporary shops and food outlets in the new service area before moving them into properly designed structures. Licenses will be issued to local residents who wish to run businesses there, subject to prescribed standard operating procedures.

The department is also developing walking tracks around the lake and building shelters to protect visitors from the sun and rain. The measures are part of a broader push to manage tourist activity within the protected area while preserving its scenic surroundings.

Hussain Deen, chairman of the Kaghan Valley Hoteliers Association, welcomed the initiative, saying unplanned construction, vehicle parking and littering had damaged the lake's natural beauty. He said relocating the businesses and jeep terminal to a designated zone could help restore the area's environment.

Deen also urged visitors to refrain from littering, noting that Saiful Muluk Lake lies within a national park and depends on responsible tourism to remain clean and accessible for future visitors.