Rainfall revives Hanna Lake Quetta, tourists throng towards the site
Syed Ali Shah :
The famous tourist point, Hanna Lake Quetta partially refilled after a recent heavy spell of rainfall. The lake located in the rugged mountains of Quetta turned into a desert after a drought hit like a situation in various parts of Balochistan. It almost takes 25-minutes to reach Hanna Lake from Quetta city.
Tourists from Quetta and other parts of the country thronged towards the Lake after the recent spell of snowfall and rainfall. “We are here to enjoy this beautiful atmosphere”, Muhammad Azhar, a young man from Karachi tells Quetta Voice. Like Azhar, a large number of tourists were roaming in the mountainous area to enjoy the cold weather.
The administration has not started operating boats
The administration has not started operating boats because the Lake is yet to be completely filled with rainwater. Quetta and various parts of northern and central Balochistan have received heavy snowfall. The city is still under the grip of chilly weather. Despite the harsh cold, the tourists are still inside the lake. “Such days come once in many years”, Saleema Ejaz, a tourist from Pakistan’s largest city of Karachi said. She was along with her five family members roaming in Hanna Lake.
“When filled with water, the lake plays a crucial role in maintaining the water table”, Amjad Rasheed, a famous environmentalist says. He underlined the need for the plantation of maximum trees to cope with the situation in the aftermath of global warming in Balochistan in general and Quetta city in particular.
British rulers had constructed Hanna Lake in 1894
Tourists complained about the garbage and plastic bags inside the lake and demanded of the concerned authorities to take steps for its cleaning. The English colonial rulers had constructed Hanna Lake in 1894. Major objectives behind the construction of the lake were to recharge springs and karezes located in the nearby mountains, maintain the water table.
The lake has been one of the famous tourist points in Balochistan, which covers half of the country in terms of area. Every summer, tourists from various parts of the country visit Hanna Lake and Ziarat valley to enjoy pleasant weather.
