The inquiry committee starts probe into stoppage of Patriata chair lift

Lahore: Provincial Minister for Education, Sports & Tourism Rana Mashhood Ahmed Khan said that on the special direction of Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif and Chief Minister Punjab Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif, an inquiry committee has been continued to probe the matter of stoppage of chair lift due to electricity failure at Patriata, Murree.

He said that committee may fix the responsibility and strict action will be taken against those creating inconveniences for the tourists and damaging the image of this unique recreational project of the country. He said that technical fault of the generator has been removed and now Patriata chair lift is completely operational.

He disclosed this during a media briefing at Patriata. Secretary Tourism Punjab Humayun Mazhar Sheikh was also present on the occasion. Rana Mashhood said that on Wednesday at about 4:00 pm during the routine load shedding of electricity, Chair lift remained operational through generator, however, at 4.27 pm chair lift stopped due to suddenly tripping of electricity transformer and the chair lift was operated with the generator but due to non-operating of the other generator, cable car will not be made functional. During this period cable car was made functional through restoring electricity. He said that due to technical fault, the tourists have to face in convenience for 37 minutes and the rush war was also increased at the starting point of cable car.

Rana Mashood said that the report will be formulated after complete investigation and strict action will be taken against the responsible persons.

Replying to questions of media, the Education Minister told that Patriata chair lift is checked regularly by the experts according to international standard and sometimes ago, its cable and roundabouts have been changed in the beginning and end points of chair lift. He said that ticketing system of chair lift is will approved for that tourists should not late for a long time. He said that Patriata chair lift is providing best recreational facilities to the tourists visiting in Murree and due to rush of tourists, it is being operated more than the fixed time during current season. The Provincial Minister said that a number of steps have been taken for providing facilities to the tourists. He said that the new parks and tourists centers are being constructed.

Earlier Rana Mashood along with Secretary Tourism, MD Punjab Tourism Development Corporation Ahmer Malik, GM Operations Tanveer Jabbar, Manager Raza Khan and other officers reviewed the protective arrangements and facilities by traveling through Patriata chair lift. He directed that shops, hotels and other facilities should be increased at the top of Patriata.