Murree has always been considered one of the best holiday destinations for adventurous excursion, especially for people coming from warmer areas. The hill station has much to offer its visitors; clean air thanks to lush green trees, stunning natural sights, good food, and of course, the Mall Road, lined with beautiful street markets that will make you spend extravagantly.
Thronged by thousands of visitors every day, especially on the weekends, the famous Mall Road of Murree hosts a number of attractions for people coming from across the country. One of these attractions is the man-powered carts, locally knows as chair-lift-cable cars, transporting people up and down the steep Mall Road and the connecting Upper Jhika Gali Road. Originally meant for children – and hence sometimes referred to as children’s car – this unusual four-wheel, two-seater car painted in beautiful colours is now popular among people of all age groups.
These cable-car pushers usually charge between Rs 100 and Rs 200 (depending on weight and weather conditions) for around a 500-metre trip on the Mall Road. If you think that is too much, consider walking the road that is at a 30-40 degree angle! Most people can easily walk the path once or twice in a go, but after that, one has to consider hiring the services of these cable-car pushers, especially when you have children along.
Among dozens of these cable-car pushers is Gul Zareef, who has been offering his services to the tourists for more than 20 years. With a pakol on his head and attired in worn-out jacket over shalwar kameez, this father of four in his late-50s gets up early in the morning and hurries to the Mall Road in search of potential customers, just like most of the local cable-car pushers. “Although these cars are a tourist attraction, visitors don’t usually hire our services until they are very tired or sick,” he said. “People bargain a lot, especially when it comes to going up the track. Most of the times they just refuse to sit in the car and walk away in the end without considering that it takes seven to 10 minutes just to push the cable car up to GPO Chowk,” he said, adding that he usually gets around 10 to 15 customers a day, some of whom just pay Rs 50 to Rs 70.
“There is no other stable source of income, except this, for our family. All of my children are studying, and I want them to complete their education so that they can have a better life than mine,” said the humble, soft-spoken Gul Zareef. Although not literate, he knows the importance of education in today’s world not only to become better citizens but also to increase their earning potential. “I know I am too old for this kind of work, but what else can I do? There is little work here and I have to keep the circle of my family going.”
Another cable-car pusher, Gul Sher, who has been working for four years now, also had a somewhat similar story to share.
He said that the Mall Road and its surrounding markets are best for running eateries and shops featuring local merchandise, but starting a business costs a lot of money, which he doesn’t have. “We have to get a permit to run these cars throughout the year.
I live in a rented house and have a family to feed. The money we earn here is hardly enough to make both ends meet.”
Talking about his earnings, he said that his cable car business heats up during the winters, especially when it snows. “People don’t even hesitate to pay Rs 200 for an up-the-track trip during the snowfall. Yes it is difficult to push the car through the snow, but it earns us more money than usual, so the effort is worth it.”