The enchanting Ayubia Valley in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Galiat has lost its allure due to the closure of the chairlift, leaving tourists from across Pakistan and the world deprived of scenic delight.

The valley, known for its breathtaking natural beauty and picturesque weather, had a chairlift installed in 1965 on the orders of the-then President Ayub Khan.

But the chairlift, which had been operational for over 27 years beyond its designed lifespan, was shut down in 2021 due to its dilapidated condition.

A spokesperson for the private company stated that they had secured a contract three years ago from the Galiat Development Authority to install a modern chairlift, but the project has faced delays as they were still awaiting the necessary approvals from all the relevant authorities.

Several tourists expressed their disappointment, saying they had come to the valley specifically to experience the chairlift, but its closure has left them greatly disillusioned.

The Galiat Development Authority’s Forest and Wildlife Department has assured that they were working to resolve all legal complexities to facilitate the immediate restoration of the chairlift, in order to address the disappointment among the visitors.