Say it will give easy access to the capital and reduce length of journey.
Traders and lawyers on Friday expressed their resolve to protect the proposed Margalla Hills tunnel project, calling it “a life line for the country’s future economic growth”.
Speaking at a press conference, senior lawyer Amjad Zaman Khan said any opposition to the mega project is tantamount to a ‘conspiracy against the people of Hazara’.
The project was conceived by former president General (Retd) Pervez Musharraf to boost trade with neighbouring China via the Karakoram Highway. But some non-governmental organisations (NGOs) opposed the project and said it would be disastrous for the environment after which the government shelved the plan.
The tunnel planned to be constructed from Haripur to Islamabad will cut through the Margalla Hills.
“Now that the current government has started spadework, the same NGOs are once again hindering its construction, claiming the project would harm the environment,” Khan said.
He added they let the government build Tarbela and Khanpur dam at the cost of their land. “Opposing parties must not forget that had we put up resistance, Islamabad’s map would have been very different.” Khan’s own family lost acres of agriculture land and orchards to make way for the construction of the Tarbela dam.
Haripur Bar Association President Advocate Maqbool Hussain said the project was of national importance and the government must not surrender to the pressure of a few organisations. He asked parliamentarians to play their role for the welfare of Hazara.
Apart from trade with China, the Hazara division also sells agricultural produce, handicrafts and industrial goods to Punjab and other cities. “The project will give easy access to the capital and reduce the length of journey,” said Sajjad Ashraf, who is the president of the Haripur Chamber of Commerce and Industry. “We also pay our taxes. Better infrastructure is our right too.”
Published in The Express Tribune, October 19th, 2013.
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what a prochial approach... the only benefit they have cited is 'reduce the length of the journey'... by how much... 15 to 20 minutes? for that they want to justify spending millions and damaging the environment?
I dont really care about what the hazarawals have to say but the fact remains that with over 180m population and prices of land sky rocketing there is a need to ecplore every oppurtunity. If the Supreme courtvwants to protect the margala hills let it find a solution to growing population and housing issue. Unlike the common man the honoyrable judges have a gorgeous private housing inthe middle of the hills with senuc views.
Lastly its is the rich mans idea to protect the scenic views from their 4 kanal houses in f6 f7 and f8. Let Rehedad khan go out and buy a plot at open market price instead of the price he paid or did not pat in the 70s.
I disagree. Harripur is well connected with Islamabad via Karakoram HWY and M1. Don't mislead people of Harripur please. Harripur can use this huge sum of money to make many hospitals, a new university and introduce welfare programs for less privileged. Driving to ISL in 1 hour instead of 1:30 minutes is not going to change anything!