Rickety ride: Mohmand, Bajaur — so near yet to far

Connecting road repair stopped midway, locals forced to use dangerous alternatives

GHALLANAI: Although Bajaur and Mohmand agencies are situated alongside each other, commute between both the areas is no more an easy ride for locals as the link road connecting the agencies has yet to be repaired.

The route was damaged during the military offensives carried out against militants. Improvised explosive device attacks, that had become a frequent occurrence in the tribal areas, have left the roads in a dilapidated state. Repair work was initiated by the Frontier Works Organisation. However, a lack of funds forced the construction work on Mohmand-Bajaur road to be put on halt.

Unfeasible routes

Roads in Mohmand are relatively in a better state, thanks to timely repair initiatives. However, roads in Bajaur still speak of the turbulence the area has seen recently.

Naqi Kandao and Ghallanai are both situated in Mohmand Agency. “The road between Naqi Kandao and Ghallanai has been repaired but construction of the route that leads to Bajaur has been stopped,” Malik Abdul Kabeer told The Express Tribune. “Work on Naqi Tunnel has also stopped due to a dearth of funds.” The alternative option, a road running from Mamad Ghat, Mohmand all the way to Bajaur is also in a similar condition.

Perilous alternatives

Due to the condition of these main roads, locals are compelled to use alternative deserted pathways that are both unpaved and deserted.

People have to often use the rickety Ambar Sar Lara Road to reach Peshawar. “Sometimes patients die on their way to the hospital due to the condition of the road that runs through Mamad Ghat,” said Kabeer. “Hence, we request the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa governor to direct the resumption of construction work on the Bajaur-Mohmand Road via this area.”

Residents of other agencies, who frequent the road to go to adjoining areas, will also benefit from the construction since the new track will save their time. “It takes six hours to travel to Peshawar from Bajaur via Dir,” said a student at University of Peshawar who hails from Bajaur Agency, Fazal Malik. “Mamad Ghat Road is the shortest route and takes us to Peshawar in three hours.”

Since the route via Mamad Ghat is in a damaged condition, Malik said he simply chooses not to travel to his home in Bajaur.

Moreover, short routes also save fuel. A driver Muneer Khan, told The Express Tribune that he charges Rs500 per person for a journey via Mohmand Agency as the route is shorter and helps him cut down on fuel costs. The alternative road that runs through Malakand requires more fuel, he added. Muneer said the journey through Ambar Sar Lara Road is tough since there are no filling stations or hotels along the way. “Hence we charge double.”

Funds and permits

Work on the Mamad Ghat route started in 2013 and had to be completed by 2015 but only the Ghallanai-Naqi Kandao part was completed.

Ghallanai to Mamad Ghat is a 55 kilometre distance of which only 13 kilometres have been patched up. The tunnel in between is 700 metres long.

While further construction is left in the hanging, permits and funds have also not been received. The UAE government financing the construction has bowed out, hence the delay, said an official.

When approached for a comment, Senator Hilalur Rehman said the issue of funds has been addressed and that work will resume sooner than later.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 15^th, 2015.