Editorial

Dr. Busharat Elahi Jamil

The Muree occurrence on January 7 and 8, 2022 ascertains the societal and ethical deterioration of the people as a nation. This very social decline reflects self-seeker, egocentric and lecherous attitude in the area. However, generally, we are well known to observe the religious, social, traditional and cultural norms in anticipation of our materialistic benefits.

The saddest aspect of this incident developed when conditions began to worsen on Friday night in Muree, administration tried hard to stop the tourists but they did not. Thousands of the tourists entered Muree by lying or misrepresenting the administration, let alone the fact that administration was too late to take action, the situation turned miserable, which later became obvious in fact finding committee’s report. Unfortunately, local administration remained abortive to rescue the tourists. The lack of preparations amplified the miseries of the tourists.

Overall, this tragic incidence shook us as a nation leaving a sense of guilt in locals, administration and the nation as well. Next to impassiveness of the administration, the coldblooded behaviour of the Muree business class jeopardised the trust in humanity. Forgoing their religious and social traditions, shadowing their basic human instincts of sympathy, they opted for their vulturous financial interests against humanity adding up to the sufferings of the thousands of tourists amid 17 inches horrible snowfall.  Their greed endangered the thousands of lives, nearly two dozen people lost their lives and thousands got affected. During this horrible natural disaster, the rents of hotel rooms and the prices of the basic human needs skyrocketed. Consequently, tourists were left with the only choice to stay in their vehicles; the key reason of the two dozen deaths. The attitude of local business class for the most part hotel industry and the incompetence of the government agencies indicates the presence of a strong mafia operational in the Muree. It seems that this mafia with the support of government officials clutches the entire system in Muree.

In the past, tourists and the media have been reporting the rude behaviour by the business class of Muree; particularly high prices, parking crisis, lack of facilities and bullying. The silence of the local administration determines that there can be some hidden political hand covering the natives.

“Bycott Muree” is not the solution of this serious issue; this will increase the hardships and the agonies of the people of the Muree. Punjab Govt. should draw out an administrative mechanism and a guideline to improve the situations and to provide the facilities with basic needs according addressing affordability of the tourists. Furthermore, the upgrading in the administrative structure of Muree is the need of the time to avoid such incidents in future.