Galiyat Travel Update: Sanitation Drive & Winter Readiness (Aug 2025)
What the government just did and why it matters?
- Hotel sewerage & sanitation inspections: KP (Khyber Pakhunkhawa) Secretary Tourism Dr Abdul Samad inspected sites from Galiyat to Barian and Changla Gali. He reviewed hotel sewerage systems, and warned that violators may face closure. The objective is to protect valleys, streams, and the visitor experience. After on-site inspections, hotels with substandard sewerage or pollution risks have been warned of legal action and possible closure.
- Clean and managed tourism: GDA has been tasked to line up cultural events, tourism festivals, and a winter tourism festival within six months to spread footfall and improve crowd management. Fresh tourism guidelines from the authorities to enhance tourism in the region are also expected.
Winter season readiness
New multi-purpose machinery for GDA (Galiyat Development Authority) & KDA (Kaghan Development Authority). KP has handed over advanced equipment designed to keep roads open in snow season. These machines clear snow and glacier debris, remove fallen trees, and can cut through concrete and metal barriers. It has seven functions in total, so emergency access improves when weather turns. Procurement is under the World Bank, supported KITE project, with four more machines in the pipeline.
What this means for travelers
- Cleaner stays: Stricter checks on hotel waste and sanitation should translate to better hygiene around popular tourist viewpoints and streams.
- Smoother road access: There are long queues and people stuck due to more traffic on their way back from Murree and Galiyat. From now onwards, expect fewer prolonged closures after snow events because clearance capacity is stronger now. However, mountain weather shifts quickly—always confirm routes before departure.
- More organized experiences. Festivals and seasonal programming should distribute crowds and add structure to peak days.
Quick travel checklist - Save for later
Travellers and tourists should take care of a few things before travelling to Murree and Galiyat region. In winters or rainy season, the area gets rushy. On occasions like Independence Day, Eid, New Year or any other observances or long weekends, people from Rawalpindi and Islamabad, head towards Murree and Galiyat for having a good time in the mountains. On 14 August, 2025 more than 53,000 vehicles entered Murree.
However, the mismanagement and traffic leads to chaos rather than having a good time. To overcome this problem, the local management has taken the responsibility to make sure the tourists do not regret their decisions to spend quality time in the mountains. They go to spend good times with their families and friends but end up in never-ending long queues.
Before going to the northern areas, make sure to check the following list:
- Check the weather forecast and any road advisories before you leave.
- Keep a safe distance and avoid overtaking on blind turns and in fog.
- Keep water, a power bank, a flash light, and a small first-aid kit with you when you travel.
- Park your vehicles in marked spots to keep emergency lanes clear.
For hotels, glamps, and tour operators
First of all, audit the sewerage and waste now. If you have a hotel, glamp or any setup in the Galiyat region that can pollute streams, get it fixed now. Penalties and hotel closures are on the table and the authorities would take strong actions against the violations.
Secondly, plan ahead for the winter season. The hotel management should align staff rosters and guest communicators with the new clearance capability. This would make a proper and organized way so check-ins are not bunched after a snowfall.
For more Details:
Website: https://wirasat.com/
E-mail: info@wirasat.com
Phone Number: +92 300 7444006
