Speedy construction of Kalash valleys road demanded

GH Farooqui

CHITRAL: The National Highway Authority (NHA) has resumed construction work on Kalash valleys road, after a delay of many many years.

People of Kalash are famous all over the world as their area has become a famous tourist attraction because of its unique culture and traditions.

Hence due to the poor condition of the roads in the valleys, domestic and foreign tourists ate facing immense difficulties as sometimes it take nearly nine hours to cover the only 22 kilometers distance to the area.

The road construction was inaugurated before the local body elections and was handed over to the National Highway Authority after federalization.

Lok Rehmat Kalash, a resident of Anish, who is the newly elected vice chairman of the area, while talking to ChitralToday demanded expeditious work on the road and its completion before the onset of winter.

Anila Kalash, who is an FSC student, said: ”We are very happy with the start of construction work on the road because earlier the students and women were facing a lot of difficulties due to the bad condition of the road.

Abdul Khaliq Kalash, who is also the president of the Hotel Association in Bamburate, said in the past we would carry our patients on shoulders to take them to hospital due to the bad condition of the road. He said with construction of this road the area would be developed and tourism gets a boost.

The local people said most of the domestic and foreign tourists who used to travel to the valleys on foot would now explore more scenic spots in their vehicles.