Syed Ali Shah, ؐManan Mandokhail:
Hundreds of tourists including women and children thronged towards the beautiful Hanna Lake Quetta after the first snowfall of the winter season. Quetta and most parts of northern Balochistan received heavy snowfall and rainfall during the last two days. Snow and rainfall have turned the weather cold and people preferred to be confined to their homes.
However, once a deserted lake was filled with rain water after a long time and tourists rushed towards the site with its natural beauty. “We are here to enjoy the cold and pleasant weather”, Muhammad Ajmal Kakar, a tourist from the Muslim Bagh area of the Killa Saifullah district said. Like Kakar, scores of tourists were roaming the lake to enjoy pleasant weather after the snowfall.
Clean cold water attracts tourists
Clean cold water attracts tourists from across Balochistan and other parts of the country. “I am coming here after five years”, Arsalan, a young man from Karachi said. Arsalan had traveled from Karachi along with four other youngsters from Karachi to Quetta to witness the snow and visit Ziarat and Hanna Lake. “We are planning to visit Ziarat tomorrow”, Arsalan informed.
Mountains around Hanna Lake had worn a white carpet, which increased its natural beauty and attracted tourists from across the country. Images and videos of the lake filled with clean blue water went viral on social media. Crowds of tourists could be seen in the lake enjoying the first snowfall of the year.
No basic facilities at the lake: Tourists complain
However, tourists complained about the lack of basic facilities inside the lake. “What a beautiful natural beauty but not a single facility”, Muhammad Jaffar, another tourist from the Pishin district of Balochistan lamented. Jaffar had brought all family members in a van to witness Hanna lake filled with clean water after a long time.
The British colonial rulers had constructed the Hanna Lake in 1894 to maintain the water table of Quetta, promote tourism, recharge ancient springs in the nearby mountains, and promote agriculture in the city. Migratory birds from Russian Syberia also used to come to the lake in the winter season. But that is no more the case because of hunting and lack of water in the lake.
