Faiza Tehseen

Proper infrastructure, eco-friendly lodging, and concerted global marketing can attract a significant number of tourists to Shandur-Hundrap National Park. Untapping the potential of tourism here is necessary to strengthen both local and national economy, Deputy Director of the Tourism Department of Baltistan Rahat Karim Baig told WealthPK.

He said, “To protect and conserve the wildlife, ecosystems, glaciers, and watersheds, the area was declared a national park in 1993. A variety of unique flora and fauna exists here. Shandur-Hundrap National Park is a protected area located in Ghizer District of Gilgit-Baltistan, a province of Pakistan.” Covering an area of about 51,800 hectares (766.10 km²) in the Hindukush Mountain Range, Shandur-Hundrap National Park is a haven for trekkers, rock climbers, mountaineers, and nature watchers.

Camping here is also a kind of adventure. To enhance the conservation efforts and promote tourism here, the involvement of local communities is necessary. By bringing awareness among them concerning the importance of conservation for socio-economic benefits, they will work enthusiastically. It will also help them guide the tourists about visiting the national park without harming its ecology.

Rahat said, “Every year, from July 7th to 9th, the Shandur Polo Festival takes place, featuring polo matches at the Shandur Polo Ground, which sits at an elevation of approximately 3,700 meters above sea level—the highest polo field in the world. During this festival, folk music, dancing, and camping setups are arranged. Both national and international tourists visit here during these days.”  He said tourism in GB was mostly hampered by the lack of proper infrastructure, transportation, and other related amenities.

Proper roads, hotels, seamless communication, and easy access to this area are necessary to cater to the growing international tourist market. To ensure these needs, the government can plan joint development programs under public-private partnerships. To untap the potential of this area regarding tourism, it is high time for the policy-makers to consider the importance of this tourist hotspot and take necessary steps for its development and promotion, added Rahat Karim.

Discussing with WealthPK the ecological value of Shandur-Hundrap National Park, Deputy Director (Technical) from the Pakistan Forest Institute, Peshawar, Muhammad Aatif Majeed said, “It is home to alpine meadows, alpine scrub zone, and sub-alpine scrub zones. These zones are vital ecosystems, each having a significant ecological value crucial to maintain biodiversity, regulate water, support a variety of species in many ways, control erosion, and sequester carbon.”

He said national parks were special zones with specific visiting protocols, which should be clearly communicated to all national and international tourists so that conservation efforts would not be sabotaged and these natural assets would be kept safe to cope with the impacts of climate change. Talking with WealthPK about the promotion of the national park, a hotspot for eco and adventure tourism, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Concordia Expedition, a tour operating company, Sahib Noor said, “The most famous aspect of this area is the annual polo festival, mountaineering, climbing, and bird watching.

Properly developed infrastructure can make the access easy. It should be focused.” He said tourism in GB could fetch a bounty if promoted tactfully across the globe. Tourists love to visit here, but lack of smart amenities is a hindrance. This issue should be addressed. By doing so, the local communities will get a sustainable income and tourism sector will also strengthen.

Credit: INP-WealthPk