The KP tourist helpline is 1422, a toll-free number run by the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Culture and Tourism Authority (KPCTA) for anyone travelling in the province. Dial it from any phone for directions, weather at your destination, traffic updates, information on facilities at a tourist site, or to raise a complaint. It is not an ambulance or fire number; for a medical emergency or accident, call Rescue 1122 instead.
Knowing which number to call, and what each service actually does, saves time when you need it. This guide covers the helpline, the separate Tourism Police force, and how the two work together on the ground in places like Naran, Swat and the Galiyat.
What does 1422 actually do?
The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Tourism Authority set up 1422 as a "Tourist Facilitation Hub", first launched on a test basis in January 2021 and since expanded into a round-the-clock, toll-free service. Calling it gets you:
- Directions and information about tourist spots and nearby attractions
- Weather updates for a specific destination
- What facilities are available at a site (parking, washrooms, medical points)
- Traffic conditions on the route ahead
- A channel to report a problem, a scam or a complaint about a hotel or service
It works province-wide, but is especially geared towards the Hazara and Malakand divisions, which cover most of the places Pakistani families drive to: Naran and Kaghan, Shogran and the Galiyat in Hazara, and Swat, Dir, Chitral and Kalash in Malakand.
Tourism Police: who they are and what they do
Tourism Police is a separate, uniformed force that KP set up in 2022 specifically to look after visitors, working under the tourism authority rather than as regular traffic or criminal police. Personnel were first deployed at Swat, Chitral, Abbottabad and Mansehra, and you will now see them at other popular spots too, including Naran, Kalash and Nathia Gali.
Their job on the ground includes:
- Directing traffic at busy junctions and bazaars, especially over Eid and long weekends
- Helping tourists who are lost, overcharged or unsure where to go
- Giving safety guidance at riverbanks, lakes and viewpoints
- Working alongside Rescue 1122 when something goes wrong
If you see a Tourism Police officer at a site, they are there specifically to help visitors, and are a good first point of contact for a local problem rather than something urgent.
When to call Rescue 1122 instead
Rescue 1122 is the province's actual emergency service, for genuine emergencies: a road accident, a medical crisis, a fire or someone in danger in a river. It is separate from the tourism helpline and reachable on 1122 from anywhere in the province, with dedicated stations and ambulances in KP's districts. In 2026, KP's tourism authority ran a safety campaign with Tourism Police and Rescue 1122 working together at high-risk spots, including the Kunhar riverbank at Naran and Lake Saiful Muluk, specifically warning visitors away from swollen streams in the monsoon.
The distinction that matters for a family on the road:
- 1422 — plan ahead, get information, report a non-urgent problem
- Tourism Police — help on the spot at a site or in a bazaar
- 1122 — a genuine emergency, right now
When it is worth calling ahead
Calling 1422 before you set out is most useful for:
- Checking whether a road or pass is currently open, since conditions change fast in the hills
- Asking about weather at your destination before a long drive
- Confirming what is open at a site out of season
It is less useful for booking anything, since it is an information and facilitation line, not a reservations desk. For planning the trip itself, our travel guide covers seasons, road conditions and what to carry across the north.
Is it safe to travel in KP?
Most of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's main tourist valleys, including Naran, Kaghan, Swat's lower valley, Nathia Gali and the Galiyat, are visited by large numbers of Pakistani families every year, and the tourism authority's helpline and police presence are part of a real effort to keep that experience straightforward. Some districts and routes in the province, including parts of Malakand division and the Karakoram Highway between Mansehra and Chilas, carry current advisories, including from the UK government against all travel. If you are heading into KP, check current news and local police advice for your specific route before you leave, and don't treat an official advisory as something to work around.
Frequently asked questions
Is the KP tourist helpline 1422 free to call?
Yes, it is toll-free from any phone, including mobiles.
What is the difference between 1422 and Tourism Police?
1422 is a phone information and complaints line run by the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Culture and Tourism Authority. Tourism Police are uniformed officers stationed at popular sites who help visitors in person and manage traffic.
Should I call 1422 for a medical emergency?
No. For an accident, injury or medical emergency anywhere in the province, call Rescue 1122 directly.
Where are Tourism Police deployed in KP?
They were first posted at Swat, Chitral, Abbottabad and Mansehra, and now also appear at other busy sites, including Naran, Nathia Gali and Kalash.
Can I use 1422 to check if a road is open?
Yes, traffic and route information is one of the things the helpline provides, though for the latest word on a specific pass it is worth also checking locally before you leave.
