Khushab severed from country by poor roads

Locals say dilapidated roads speak volumes about negligence of administration

KHUSHAB:

All main roads and arteries in Khushab’s Nowshera Tehsil were damaged beyond repair, creating immense difficulty for residents of the Soon Valley, as well as tourists visiting the region.

The dilapidated condition of the roads speaks volumes about the negligence and inattention of elected representatives and the relevant authorities.

UC Chairman Mardwal Malik Hadi Bakhsh Awan, while talking to The Express Tribune, said that the main roads of Nowshera are the primary means of access to Khushab district and connecting routes from Rawalpindi, Lahore and Islamabad.

The condition of the roads has deteriorated so much that it is difficult for vehicles to move, he said, regretting that members of the assembly, the district administration and the highway authorities continue to remain mute over the problem.

Social activist Muhammad Mumtaz, Soon Valley is renowned for its springs, lakes, verdant mountains and natural waterfalls. If carpeted roads were built to access it, the valley would become a tourist hub beyond doubt, he said.

Vice Chairman Municipal Committee Nowshera Malik Asif Shaheen Awan said that it was necessary to re-carpet and reconstruct old roads from Rawalpindi and Chakwal, but the roads have not even seen patchwork.

Due to the rains, a new lake has come into existence near Mouz Ahmedabad, which has completely submerged the road.

Former Nazim Nowshera Malik Mahmoodul Hasan Awan said that the Khushab-Nowshera road was partially built, but the road leading to the mountains was neglected. All the bridges on the road have broken, due to which robberies and rapes have become commonplace.

Nowshera-Ochhali road is the only road to Ochhali lake, which has fallen into ruin, he said, adding that the dilapidated condition of the roads is posing difficulties for locals and tourists.

Politician and social worker Chaudhry Fayyaz stated that Jaba-Nowshera road has been completely destroyed, with daily traffic jams becoming the norm and being responsible for traffic accidents.

A local shopkeeper Malik Farooq Awan said the government should release emergency funds for the construction of roads in this area.

Locals are building and paving roads out of their own pockets. Thousands of medical patients face severe hardships on these dilapidated roads.

Councilor Malik Khalid Masood Awan maintained that people traveling on these roads have been suffering from respiratory diseases due to dust flying from the road, while transporters coming from other cities are also caught up when their vehicles get stuck in puddles, which cost them more than their income from fares.

Trucks getting stuck is the new normal. If the government does not pay attention to it, then a major accident can happen. Dozens of people have already been killed and hundreds of people injured in hundreds of accidents, due to bad roads in Nowshera Tehsil.

All government representatives of this area have played politics on these roads and made big promises but without delivery, he said.

Political and social personality Malik Ahmaduddin Awan said that it is incomprehensible that TDCP is not paying attention to the road leading to the tourist spot Kunhati Bagh. Thousands of tourists take his road in summer, but the condition of the road is getting worse.

It is strange that the buildings department pays no attention to the roads and it appears that its employees only receive their salaries sitting in their homes.

Due to the dilapidated condition of the said road, domestic and foreign tourists who come to see this beautiful area are also facing severe travel problems, he said.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 26^th, 2022.