Urges payment of dues to Korean construction company before onset of heavy snowfall. PHOTO: FAZAL KHALIQ/EXPRESS
Closure of Lowari Tunnel is resulting in a shortage of resources and price hike in Chitral, said former member of National Assembly Abdul Akbar Chitrali on Saturday.
Addressing a news conference at Peshawar Press Club, the former MNA warned they will launch protests if the government did not ensure the route is open for four hours every day.
He lamented the incumbent federal government of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) is not serious about ending the suffering of the people of Chitral and was not taking any steps to keep the route open.
Chitrali, who is also a Jamaat-e-Islami central Shura member, then requested the provincial government to pay dues of Rs50 million to the Korean company working on the tunnel in order to provide relief to the people.
“Prompt action should be taken before proper snowfall starts as there is no alternate route,” he said, adding: “For that, an agreement with the said company should be made to guarantee the tunnel remains functional.”
Closure of the tunnel for long hours has resulted in an acute shortage of wheat in the region along with other staples, increasing prices of various commodities, maintained the former MNA.
The Peshawar High Court on Friday had directed principal secretary to K-P chief minister, Malakand commissioner, along with field commander and National Highway Authority chairman to keep the tunnel open for three days a week instead of one.
The decision was taken during a hearing of a man who lost his land after his counsel could not reach the case hearing in Chitral due to the closure of Lowari.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 8th, 2013.
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