Razed to the ground: Encroachment drive kicks off in Shabqadar

Campaign to continue for another three days

SHABQADAR: An encroachment drive kicked off in various parts of Shabqadar on Wednesday.

The campaign was launched by Shabqadar Tehsil Municipal Administration.

Speaking to The Express Tribune, Shabqadar Additional Assistant Commissioner Tariq Hassan and Tehsil Municipal Officer Alamzeb Khan the drive was carried out on Peshawar-Shabqadar, Shabqadar-Matta and Shabqadar-Michni roads. As per the officials, illegal encroachments have been demolished in these areas. The drive was monitored by officials of the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Highway Authority.

Shopkeepers were warned not to illegally occupy or encroach upon government properties otherwise action would be taken against them. The drive is set to continue for the next three days.

Officials privy to the development told The Express Tribune locals had complained of large-scale encroachments a week ago. They added the drive has been hailed as a positive development by locals and many of them want such campaigns to offer permanent solutions.

Do it yourself

Local councillors of Panjpaw union council, Shabqadar and social activists repaired a road leading to a dam in Mohmand Agency. Repair work was conducted after donations were collected.

Village council nazim Wakeel Khan, who was collecting money from passers-by, told The Express Tribune the government had promised to build a road leading toward a dam project in Mohmand Agency.

“Promises have been made for the past 10 years,” he said. “However, the road has yet to be constructed. We feel the government is not keen on rebuilding the road. We can only have it constructed by collecting donations.”

Published in The Express Tribune, May 26^th, 2016.