Federal Minister for Energy Sardar Awais Ahmad Khan Leghari says widening of roads and construction of parks at Fort Munru in district Dera Ghazi Khan is being carried out at a cost of two and a half billion rupees to develop it as a tourist spot According to Radio Pakistan, he said this while addressing several public meetings in different Union Councils in Dera Ghazi Khan.The Minister said basic amenities of life are being provided to villages of this region on priority bases. The Fort Munro hill station, standing at a height of 6,470 above sea level, is part of the Suleman Range and one of the few places in Punjab which receives snowfall every now and then. It connects Punjab with Balochistan and was originally known as 'Anari Mol' (Hilltop with pomegranates in the Balochi language). More of a summer retreat than a fort, the place attracts quite a large number of local tourists looking for relief from the scorching heat in southern Punjab.Many, though, are oblivious to the marvels around them.The silent rocks on the way to Fort Munro, among many other things, offer clues to the cataclysmic event that resulted in the extinction of the dinosaurs some 65 million years ago and the emergence of mammals thereafter. A thin grey/brown line laid into the rock is the Cretaceous and the Tertiary boundary, commonly known as the K-T boundary. This boundary is the distinct layer of geological sediments delineating the Cretaceous and Tertiary periods, and linked with the massive asteroid impact that may have led to the extinction of dinosaurs and other species. It is found all over the world.A visitor said it was wonderful to experience the snowfall, but the lack of food and water spoiled the enjoyment. He added that lack of attention from the government has turned this place into “a curse”.“We don’t even have clean drinking water and are roaming around with kids in the open as most guest houses have increased their rates. We cannot afford the high prices to enjoy this lovely weather,” he added.Another visitor, Mirza Yaqoob, demanded that the government provide facilities like those found in Murree. He urged the private sector to invest, adding authorities only announced projects which never saw the light of day.Power loadshedding for long duration is common feature of this area.Similarly,non-availability of water adds miseries to the visitors as well as locals.A local said that the charges of water tankers had increased as one was being sold at a cost of Rs5,000. He added water supply in the area had been closed for the last three months.
