30/06/2025
Statement:
It has been two days since the Tehsil Administration sealed the Rainbow Bridge in Passu without providing any official explanation. Our team, along with local community leaders, has been actively engaging with the administration to understand the reasons behind this action and to request the reopening of the facility.
We would like to provide some background on this initiative. The Rainbow Bridge is a popular tourist attraction developed by local youth with the support of the community. It was established to offer adventure activities for tourists, promote youth entrepreneurship, and create employment opportunities. The initiative was launched under the Passu Development Organization’s tourism development program, which aims to empower youth and promote sustainable tourism in the region.
In addition to the bridge, several small businesses—including a tea shop, café, tuck shop, and zipline—have flourished as a result of this project. More than 10 families are directly earning their livelihood through these facilities.
Regarding safety, we would like to highlight the measures in place:
• Two trained local staff members are stationed at the site to guide and assist visitors.
• The bridge is constructed using four solid steel cables and securely anchored to stable rock formations.
• The entire bridge is enclosed with safety netting to minimize the risk of slipping or falling into the river.
• Life jackets are available and provided for guests when necessary.
Since its opening in 2021, Rainbow Bridge has not recorded a single safety incident.
If the Tehsil Administration has identified any safety concerns, we believe the appropriate approach would have been to communicate with the management team and community leaders to collaboratively address the issues, rather than abruptly sealing the facility. The people of Hunza are law-abiding citizens, and this sudden action has caused distress and disrupted the livelihoods of those dependent on the site.
It appears that this decision may have been influenced by a recent social media video containing misinformation. Notably, the platform that shared the video has since issued an apology to the Passu community for the inaccurate content.
We urge the Tehsil Administration to reconsider this decision and work together with the community to resolve any concerns in a transparent and constructive manner.