The winter beauty of Murree has officially entered its dry season as a result of the prolonged drought, bringing a sudden end to the already subdued tourist season. Nineteen tourist facilitation centres along the Rawalpindi–Murree road have shut down and sent their employees back to Rawalpindi after the announcement. The Murree-based Civil Defence volunteers have also gone back to their duties.
Schools and institutions in Murree are scheduled to resume on March 1, marking the return to routine for the area, following the completion of the season. But the millions of dollars in losses have been piled up by the business owners who put a lot of money into Murree’s tourist sector. Due to the lack of tourists, many have packed up and gone back to their hometowns in Pakistan, such as Karachi, Lahore, and Faisalabad.
Snowfall in Murree was exceptionally low this year, discouraging visitors from all across the nation. The economy of Murree took a further hit as many tourists opted to visit other places like Kalam, Swat, and Gilgit-Baltistan to see snowy scenery.
The Meteorological Department predicts mostly dry weather for Murree during the next month, with the possibility of light rain and snow on occasion. Saying goodbye to the season is never easy for Murree residents who depend on the city’s once-thriving winter tourism sector.
