Mutual benefit: Chitralis demand area development funds

CCDN members say region possesses vast untapped potential.

PESHAWAR: The Chitral Community Development Network (CCDN), a conglomerate of civil society organisations from the district, on Wednesday demanded the government approve area development funds for the district.

Addressing a news conference at the Peshawar Press Club, CCDN Chairman Mohammad Wazir Khan, Vice Chairman Sher Agha and former nazim Sartaj Ahmed Khan stated Chitral has been blessed with abundant reserves of natural resources. They asserted that proper utilisation of these resources would be beneficial to both the government and the local community.

Mohammad Wazir Khan added the CCDN would be willing to assist the provincial government in planning proper utilisation of Chitral’s natural resources for peace and prosperity in the region.

Demanding that the local population’s share in the district’s mineral resources be acknowledged, Mohmand insisted the district be given 30 megawatts of electricity from the Golen Gol hydropower project. He also urged the Chitral Border Police Force be increased to 3,000 in number.

The CCDN chairman asked for the inclusion of Chitral’s local community in the development process in order to achieve sustainable development, adding that local support organisations (LSOs) must be empowered to plan district and village council activities. He also demanded that efforts be made to promote and preserve Chitral’s culture.

Former nazim of Chitral tehsil, Sartaj Ahmed Khan, said the government approved area development funds for other areas in the province, including Abbottabad and Swat. He stated that Chitral should also be granted similar funds, adding that the district’s forests were under threat, and to protect the flora and fauna of the region the government must give about 30 MW of electricity to the region.

The former nazim also stated that the district possessed untapped reserves of mineral resources, as well as vast potential for tourism and hydroelectric power, all of which could be utilised for the benefit of both the local community and the country.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 27^th, 2014.