Uplift work on hiking trails completed

Islamabad: The Islamabad Wildlife Management Board (IWMB) has carried out upgradation and development work on hiking trails during their closure for the general public.

The details showed that the staff workers have restored the top spot of Trail III and also done maintenance work on its path. The erosion in some parts of the trails due to human interventions and other natural reasons needed upgradation and maintenance work. So the management also made arrangements to carry out the work required in this respect. The concrete patches on trails have been removed and landscape work is done in quite a natural way. The use of concrete, cement, and other such material is not allowed in the Margalla Hills National Park.

It has also repaired wooden boards and signboards placed on various locations to provide guidelines to the visitors. The IWMB is also pondering over a suggestion to offer a camping facility at the top of Trail III. Currently, the visitors can obtain permission for a night camping in various locations designated by the administration. There are various tour operators who arrange private trips of the visitors from other cities to the Margalla hills. The visitors enjoy open-air barbeque and camping in various locations in the hills during the trip.

The arrangements are also being made to give permission for night camping to the visitors through an online facility. According to the IWMB, the main purpose of ongoing efforts is not only to provide better trekking facilities to the visitors but also maintain a serene and calm environment in the natural habitats of the birds and animals. It said there is already a ban on dogs and now measures are being taken to ensure the trekkers make no noise while trekking on trails.