Who is responsible for the maintenance of the neglected Abbottabad to Mansehra road?

It's our government’s duty to maintain our roads and take responsibility for the troubles faced by these people.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif recently visited Mansehra and Abbottabad. In his visit, he promised to build the first university for women in the area, introduce a gas supply system and launch the second phase of the motorway.

This announcement was much needed.

But what needs more attention is the terrible condition of the road from Abbottabad to Mansehra. This road connects the northern areas to the rest of Pakistan. Considering it is a widely used road, it deserves to be in immaculate condition. Over 10 years have passed and not a single plan has been made to ameliorate the road conditions. Furthermore, matters have deteriorated to such an extent that it’s no longer bearable.



It is of utmost important that our prime minister looks into this matter as well, considering it requires serious efforts from the federal end. Perhaps he can take a road trip to Mansehra and Abbottabad to experience the significance of this matter himself.



Who exactly is responsible for the maintenance of the Karakoram Highway (KKH)? Does it not fall under the jurisdiction of the federal government or the National Highway Authority (NHA)? Mansehra and Abbottabad are places which will act as an important route for the China Pakistan Economic Corridor(CPEC); it will have an adverse impact on our image in front of the Chinese.



Moreover, this has adversely impacted tourism, leaving a negative impression on foreigners that visit the area.

That being said, it is our government’s duty to maintain our roads. They should take complete responsibility for the trouble they have caused the people who have been using this road for the past decade.

All photos: Umar Farooq