KARACHI:
Last year when Swat was hit by the devastating floods, the local administration and provincial government promised that the damaged infrastructure will be reconstructed promptly to resume regular activities. However, these promises never materialised and most roads and bridges remain unrepaired. The current wave of floods has once again damaged the shabby infrastructure and harmed local businesses and hotels, which are the main source of income in the region.
The bridge that connected Lower Swat with Upper Swat has been destroyed leaving no transportation route for the people. The nomadic people are stuck with their cattle on the western side of the river. People in the upper region need access to essential items and no one can cross the river to supply them with necessary items. People in the upper regions are compelled to use a temporary wooden suspension bridge to cross the Daral River, which is extremely dangerous as it has low weight resistance.
Unfortunately, the local government will not pay heed to the matter until a tragedy takes place. The absence of proper infrastructure has obstructed people’s routine activities across Swat. The provincial and municipal authorities must take immediate action to repair infrastructure across Swat to restore normalcy in the region.
Usman Torwali
Swat
.Published in The Express Tribune, April 22nd, 2023.
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