PESHAWAR: The interim government in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) has directed a comprehensive inspection and safety audit of all chairlifts operating in the province, prompted by a recent cable car incident in Battagram. In response to this incident, the provincial government issued instructions to all deputy commissioners in KP, tasking them with conducting safety audits of chairlifts within their respective jurisdictions.
The directive also calls for an immediate examination of chairlifts at commercial, residential, and recreational sites, as well as inspections of cable cars installed over rivers and canals.
The advisory further demands that the deputy commissioners review the design, capacity, and safety protocols of all chairlifts and submit their reports within a week. Additionally, the installation of cable cars now requires obtaining a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the district administration.
The people in KP’s northern areas and Gilgit-Baltistan use cable cars extensively to reach villages and towns where conventional road infrastructure is problematic. However, safety concerns have arisen due to incidents like the one in 2017, when a chairlift cable snapped, resulting in 10 casualties as passengers plummeted into a ravine near Islamabad.
This decision highlights the government’s commitment to ensuring the safety of individuals who use chairlifts for transportation.
