Naran: From Tourist Destination to Natural Heritage — A Review of Construction, Encroachments and Environmental Threats

Naran – Naran was never just a tourist destination. It was a complete natural system of forests, rivers, green meadows, mountains and open landscapes. But in recent years, hotels, shops and other constructions have rapidly increased in Naran and the Kaghan Valley. The question is: has the pace of our construction outpaced our planning?
Illegal Construction and Encroachments
This is not just a perception. Government records and court documents have repeatedly highlighted issues of illegal construction and encroachments along Naran and the Kunhar River.
2020: During a visit to Naran and Kaghan Valley, the Commissioner of Hazara took notice of illegal construction along the Kunhar River, obstruction of the river's flow, and illegal extraction of sand and gravel. Approximately 20 people were arrested in that operation.
2021: The administration decided to take action against 129 illegal structures around Naran, Kaghan and Lake Road, including hotels, shops and houses.
In subsequent operations:
· 6 illegal hotels were completely demolished
· Illegal portions of 22 hotel buildings were torn down
· More than 6,000 illegal cabins were removed
· Over 700 kanals of government land were reportedly vacated
· Sewage from some hotels was polluting Lake Saiful Muluk
The Problem Isn't Just Construction — It's the River Too
The issue of construction along the Kunhar River is not new. In the record of a Peshawar High Court judgment concerning a construction matter in Naran, it is stated that sewage from some hotels was flowing directly into the river, and the area requires a proper Sewerage Waste Management Plan. The same record also mentions the impact on the Kunhar River's natural flow and trout habitat.
This is a very important point. Building hotels along a river is not just a land issue — it concerns water, fish, wildlife and the entire ecosystem.
2014: An NHA building constructed on the bed of the Kunhar River in Naran was also sealed over violations of environmental and river laws. Authorities had identified that this construction was affecting the river's course and the natural habitat of trout.
The Tax Issue Also Exists
Naran's economy is not limited to tourist arrivals. Hotels, restaurants and other tourism-related businesses here have become a major local economy.
According to the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Revenue Authority (KPRA):
· Data on hotels and restaurants in Naran Valley was obtained and tax registration notices were issued
· Around 200 hotels were later registered for tax
· 2023: KPRA received a complaint regarding a tax invoice from a hotel in Naran
· June 2026: A KPRA team inspected 21 hotels and restaurants in Naran; discrepancies were found in the records of some businesses, and notices were issued to some for failing to issue proper tax invoices
So the issue is not just "how much money is being earned?" The real question is: To what extent is this entire tourism economy being run in accordance with the law, taxation and environmental principles?
What Should Naran's Next Step Be?
The problem has not been resolved even in 2026.
July 2026: During an official forum in Naran, authorities discussed action against illegal construction along the Kunhar River banks and in protected areas, and stated that legal action would be taken against construction carried out despite court orders. Authorities also acknowledged that unregulated construction and deforestation have affected the valley's natural beauty and ecological role.
That same year, an official report mentioned extensive flaws in hotel sewerage systems identified by KDA, while work on a Master Plan and Zone Plan was discussed to control unregulated construction in Naran and Upper Kaghan.
Time to Change the Question
So perhaps we need to change our question about Naran.
The question is not — "How many more hotels can be built in Naran?"
The question should be: "How much tourism can Naran sustain within its natural limits?"
Because hotels can be rebuilt. Roads can be rebuilt. Buildings can be erected again.
But if the Kunhar's natural system, the forests and the valley's true beauty are lost, only buildings will remain.
Naran needs tourists — but a kind of tourism that does not consume Naran itself.
And perhaps the time has come to view Naran not just as a Tourist Destination but as a Natural Heritage.
Research: Husnain Chan Babu
Disclaimer: This article is based on oral history and cultural research for educational purposes only.