Pakistani actress and television host Farah Sadia has shared a cautionary message for tourists visiting Nathia Gali, urging them to stay vigilant after what she described as a misleading fruit purchase during her trip.
Taking to her Instagram handle, the actress posted a video recounting her experience, advising visitors not to be deceived by vendors claiming to sell fresh local cherries.
"Good morning from Nathia Gali. Don't get scammed. If you enter and someone tells you these are fresh local cherries, don't buy them," she said in the video. Farah explained that she purchased the fruit believing it to be freshly picked cherries, only to later discover that the container contained sour plums instead. She claimed that only a few pieces placed on top resembled cherries, while the rest of the container was filled with leaves and different fruit.
She further remarked that the fruit appeared to be unripe green plums that had somehow been made to look red. According to her, the fruit was extremely sour and did not match what had been advertised.
Expressing her disappointment, Farah said vendors did not need to misrepresent the product.
"They could have honestly said these were sour plums, and we still might have bought them because we're tourists who want to try local produce. There was no need for deception," she added.
Her video quickly gained traction online, with many social media users revealing that they had experienced similar situations during visits to Nathia Gali and other northern tourist destinations.
One user commented, "The same thing happened to me."
Another wrote, "This happened to me yesterday. Only the fruit on top was good, while the rest underneath was spoiled."
A third recalled, "The same thing happened to me two years ago. There were only a few grapes on top, and I was completely shocked after buying it."
Another social media user observed that in many northern tourist areas, children often sell small items such as candies, bubble makers, or fruit to visitors as a way of earning money without directly asking for alms, encouraging tourists to remain mindful while making purchases.
Farah Sadia's experience has sparked discussion online about the importance of honest business practices in popular tourist destinations, with many users urging visitors to inspect products carefully before buying and calling on local authorities and vendors to preserve the reputation of Pakistan's scenic northern regions through fair dealing.