Tourists visiting Zazai Aryub demand standard services

GARDEZ (Pajhwok): Tourists, who thronged the Zazai Aryub district of southeastern Paktia for sightseeing during Eidul Fitr holidays, praised the area’s breathtaking landscape, but complained about lack of facilities and services.

The tourists asked the government to build the road to Zazai Aeyub district and provide necessary facilities and standard services including health, telecommunication and stay.

Obaidullah, a tourist from Helmand province, told Pajhwok: “Zazai Aryub district has very interesting sceneries and is a very suitable place for recreation, but unfortunately, it has been paid no much attention.”

He added telephone and internet, which were important facilities, did not work in the area and there was no accommodation and health facilities.

Another visitor, Noor Agha Hamdard from Kabul, said: “Many people flock to Zazai Aryub recreational areas during Eid holidays, so besides other facilities, there should be a well-equipped hotel and health facility because people need it.”

Local officials acknowledged the problems mentioned by the tourists, but said they availed more facilities this year compared to last year.

Zazai Aryub district deputy administrative head Abdul Moeen Sabawon told Pajhwok: “The recreation areas in the district were given to private companies on contract in the past few Eids to provide food, drinking and accommodation systems for the tourists. Those companies also widened and repaired a 10-kilometer road leading to the area”.

Sabawon said on average 2,500 vehicles carrying tourists daily entered the area during this year’s Eid and the number of tourists had reached 15,000.

He said some tourists spent a few nights and people would continue to throng the area for next few days.

Zazai Ariub district is 90 kilometers away from Gardez adjacent to the Durand Line and has lush mountainous areas.

After the end of the conflict in the country, thousands of people from different provinces arrive in the district for sightseeing every year.

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