Punjab Chief Minister calls Murree a “disaster region,” declares an emergency in the city, and orders help for stranded tourists.

LAHORE — Due to severe snowfall, Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Buzdar declared an emergency in Murree on Saturday and asked the local authorities to assist trapped tourists.

The CM has issued an order to open government rest facilities and offices to tourists, according to a statement. He promised that all available resources will be used to assist tourists during this difficult period.

The CM has directed the concerned agencies to supply the stranded individuals with the necessary relief goods. He also expressed sympathy to the families of those who died from the cold.

Sheikh Rashid, the Federal Minister of the Interior, has arrived in Murree to oversee relief and evacuation efforts.

To avoid any disruption, the minister urged people to postpone their plans to the northern districts. He said that civil armed forces had been called in to help with a snow-related rescue operation.

Sheikh Rashid asked people to assist visitors who were caught in the storm. We have restricted all routes to Murree due to the overwhelming number of tourists in these locations, he said.

In a separate video address, the minister stated that there had been sixteen to nineteen deaths in Murree as a result of snowfall.