Protest held in Islamabad against NHA for halting road project

ISLAMABAD: A large number of people from Chitral held a protest outside the National Press Club against the National Highway Authority (NHA) for unexpectedly halting work on the construction of Chitral-Shandur road.

The 153 km road project, work on which began in September 2021, was scheduled to be completed by October 2023. However, the NHA contractor stopped work and left the project site recently due unknown reasons.

Some of the local leaders were of the opinion that work on the project had stopped due to the harsh weather conditions but others believed it had been halted due to lack of funds.

There have been rumors circulating on social media that the project funding had been shifted to Dera Ismail Khan, leading to accusations of discrimination against the residents of Chitral.

The protesters held banners and placards demanding the completion of the road project, which is critical for the economic development of the area.

Shahzada Sirajul Mulk, Hussain Zarin Charvelu, Senator Falak Naz, Shad Zarin, CHEPS Chairman Rehmat Ali, Akhtar Shad, Hayat and others attended the protest.

The participants chanted slogans against the alleged discrimination and demanded the completion of the road project as soon as possible.