Sherpao also concerned over plight of Chitralis

PESHAWAR, Nov 8: Mainstream leaders from different political parties outside Chitral have expressed their concerns over the sufferings of the people of Chitral due to the closure of the only road and non-opening of the under-construction tunnel. After the PTI central information secretary Shireen Mazari, Qaumi Watan Party (QWP) Chairman Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao in a statement in Peshawar said the non-opening of the tunnel had added to the woes of the people of Chitral district. He said hundreds of passengers had been stranded on both sides of the Lowari top and facing great hardships. Expressing his serious concern over the inordinate delay in the completion of this mega project, he said the government should complete work on the Lowari Tunnel project at the earliest to reduce the agonies of the local population. “The completion of the Lowari Tunnel project would not only develop the district, but also bring it on a par with the rest of the country,” he maintained and added that Chitrali people deserved to be given proper attention as they always faced serious communication problems. The QWP chief said the closure of the Lowari Tunnel would create shortage of food items in the scenic valley and added that the government should take steps to mitigate the sufferings of the Chitralis as soon as possible. “Our party will always raise voice for removal of the sense of deprivation among the Pakhtuns and other ethnic groups living in KPK. Pakhtuns always faced serious problems and now they needed immediate attention on part of the government,” he added. Mr Sherpao said that the previous provincial government had totally ignored the underdeveloped areas in uplift projects, which led to alienation among the unprivileged segments of the society. He said it was time that the provincial and federal government should give proper attention towards the development of the far flung district to remove the unrest among the people.  ]]>