RAWALPINDI:

The snowfall season in Murree has been officially declared over following an extended dry spell.

As a result, 19 tourist facilitation centres set up along the Rawalpindi-Murree route have been shut down, and the deployed staff have been recalled to Rawalpindi with instructions to report to their respective departments.

With the season officially concluded, all Civil Defence volunteers stationed in Murree have also returned to Rawalpindi.

Authorities have now declared the weather in Murree to be in a “normal state,” signalling the end of winter holidays.

Schools and colleges in the area are set to reopen from March 1.

Business owners from Karachi, Hyderabad, Lahore, Gujranwala, and Faisalabad, who had invested heavily in the seasonal tourism economy, have begun returning to their hometowns.

The unexpectedly dry season has led to significant financial losses, with investments worth millions going down the drain.

According to the Meteorological Department, Murree will continue to experience occasional rain and light snowfall over the next month, but overall, the weather will remain stable.

This year, Murree recorded the lowest snowfall in Pakistan’s history, leading to a sharp decline in tourist arrivals.

Many travellers opted for alternative destinations such as Kalam, Swat, and Gilgit-Baltistan to experience snow-covered landscapes.