PTA announces free calling facility to users stranded in Galliat areas

Islamabad: Following to the ongoing emergency situation, the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has announced a free on-net calling facility for all users who stranded in Galyat areas due to heavy snowfall.

In a tweet on official account, the PTA said: "In view of the emergency situation in Murree and Galliat areas, mobile phone users, currently present in these areas with no balance, have immediately been provided with free on-net calling facility."

Press Release: In view of emergency situation in Murree and Galliat areas, mobile phone users, currently present in these areas with no balance, have immediately been provided with free on-net calling facility.

— PTA (@PTAofficialpk) January 9, 2022

All mobile phone operators in Pakistan will provide the facility to stranded users who have run out of balance. 

"On the directions of PTA, cellular mobile operators have extended free calling facility on their own network to users, with zero balance, stranded in Galliat areas. Users may contact their concerned operators for more info," the statement added.

On the directions of PTA, cellular mobile operators have extended free calling facility on their own network to users, with zero balance, stranded in Galliat areas. Users may contact their concerned operators for more info.

— PTA (@PTAofficialpk) January 9, 2022

The PTA also assured users to be supplied with "uninterrupted services" to deal with the emergency.

Moreover, PTA has also directed all telecom operators to ensure uninterrupted services to users and keep enough back up arrangments in case of power outages.

— PTA (@PTAofficialpk) January 9, 2022

"Moreover, PTA has also directed all telecom operators to ensure uninterrupted services to users and keep enough backup arrangments in case of power outages."

All major roads in Murree have been cleared for all types of traffic. 

According to the Inter-Service Public Relation (ISPR), after clearance of main roads, Army engineers are now focusing on link roads.

Relief camps, medical facilities are fully operating and Army transport is plying for moving of stranded tourists to Rawalpindi and Islamabad.

Meanwhile, operations for the evacuation of snow storm stranded tourists in Murree and Galyat are in full swing by Pakistan Air Force.

Spokesperson of the PAF said that during the rescue operations, PAF personnel have shifted more than 100 persons, including women and children at PAF Bases Kalabagh and Lower Topa. Shelter, food and medical facilities are being provided round the clock to the affected families by the rescue teams of PAF.

On the other hand, the Punjab government has announced to provide compensation to the families of the 23 people who died in Murree on Friday.

In statement, Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Usman Buzdar held a meeting with senior officials to discuss the situation in Murree. The meeting was attended by provincial Law Minister Raja Basharat, chief secretary, senior member of Board of Revenue Punjab and others.

The chief minister was briefed that the situation in Murree had returned to normalcy. The Punjab government took a decision to compensate to the families of all those who lost their lives after being stuck on roads leading to Murree due to heavy snowfall during the meeting.

It was decided that the families of the dead will be provided financial assistance. The government will provide Rs800,000 compensation for each death in Murree, adding that Rs176 million has been approved in this regard. The aggrieved families will jointly receive Rs17.6 million in wake of financial assistance.

Meanwhile, at least 23 people have been killed after heavy snowfall covered Murree and other northern areas of Pakistan, hampering traffic and disrupting public transportation. 

The rescue operation, which was suspended earlier after night fell, has resumed as the sun is finally shining in Murree after two freezing and terrifying nights.

Earlier, Punjab government subsequently declared Murree a calamity hit area in view of the situation arising there because of heavy snowfall. Entry into the hill station is still banned. Only emergency and rescue vehicles have been allowed.

The rescue operation has resumed and personnel of the Pakistan Army, FWO, and NDMA are removing snow from main roads from cranes and other heavy machinery. They said 90% of the roads, Bara Kahu to Murree, Nathia Gali to Kuldana, Gika Gali, and Mall Road, have been cleared.

According to the NDMA Chairperson Lt-General Akhtar Nawaz, 600 to 700 vehicles have been evacuated. Over 5,000 cars have left Murree. "371 tourists have been shifted to the relief camps set up by the Pakistan Army before the night", the chairman NDMA said.

He further said that except for Bariyan, NathiaGali, and Abbottabad, all the roads have been cleared. "The situation is slowly coming back to normal."

On Saturday, the government imposed a restriction on the entry of tourists into Shogran, Naran, and Kaghan as well.

According to the notification from the office of Deputy Commissioner Mansehra, Tehsil Balakot, Naran, Kaghan and Shogran have been closed for all kinds of traffic due to the bad weather conditions.

Earlier, the Met Office had said that the weather in Murree will get better by Sunday afternoon and snowfall will stop which will help the rescue operations.

However, as the snow melts, expressways and highways heading to the hill station will become slippery increasing the chances of road accidents.

On Friday, thousands of tourists entered the hill station to enjoy the weather after the area received heavy snowfall—causing heavy traffic jams on Murree-Islamabad Motorway. It has been reported that over 100,000 vehicles entered the hill station.