Moto Tunnel is a historic passage dating back more than 130 years to the British colonial era, is situated within Ayubia National Park in Abbottabad District, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. It was constructed in 1891. A revitalization effort was undertaken in October 2020 to return the tunnel to its original state.[1][2]
| Overview | |
|---|---|
| Location | Ayubia National Park, Abbottabad District, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan |
| Status | Open |
| Operation | |
| Constructed | 1891 |
| Opened | 29 October 2020 (renovated) |
| Owner | Ministry of Climate Change and KP’s wildlife department |
| Operator | Ministry of Climate Change and KP’s wildlife department |
| Traffic | Pedestrians |
| Technical | |
| Length | 250 feet |
History
editWhile excavating a pit for a plantation within Ayubia National Park in northern Pakistan, workers stumbled upon an unexpected discovery—a century-old British-era tunnel. The historical tunnel constructed in 1891, had been buried under a heap of refuse due to negligence. However, through efforts led by the Ministry of Climate Change (Pakistan|Ministry of Climate Change]], the tunnel has been meticulously restored to its former magnificence.[3][4][5] It was officially inaugurated on 29 October 2020 by Malik Amin Aslam, the Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Climate Change.[6]
In a collaborative effort, the Climate Change, Forestry, Environment & Wildlife Department, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa joined forces to meticulously renovate and return the 'Moto Tunnel' to its former splendor. Recognizing its archaeological importance, the tunnel has been established as a cultural and heritage emblem. This restoration project was carried out under the umbrella of the Global Environment Facility and the United Nations Development Programme's (UNDP) Sustainable Forest Management initiative.[3]
References
edit- ^ "The Motto Tunnel in Ayubia National Park restored to its original condition and opened to tourists". paktourismportal.com. Retrieved 2023-08-12.
- ^ "موٹو ٹنل: ایوبیہ میں انگریز دور کی 130 برس قدیم سرنگ کی بحالی - BBC News اردو" [Moto Tunnel: Restoration of 130-year-old British-era tunnel in Ayubiyah]. BBC News اردو. Bbc.com. Retrieved 2023-08-12.
- ^ a b Sana Jamal, Correspondent (2020-10-30). "From trash to treasure: 129-year-old British-era tunnel restored in Pakistan | Pakistan – Gulf News". Gulfnews.com. Retrieved 2023-08-12.
{{cite web}}:|author=has generic name (help) - ^ "Historical British-era tunnel restored and reopened in Ayubia". October 30, 2020.
- ^ Qayum, Atif (October 29, 2020). "British-era tunnel opened for people at Ayubia National Park". Samaa.
- ^ "ایوبیہ میں انگریزوں کے دور کی تاریخی سرنگ سیاحوں کیلئے دوبارہ کھول دی گئی" [The historic British-era tunnel in Ayubiyah has been reopened for tourists]. Urdu.geo.tv. 2020-10-31. Retrieved 2023-08-12.