Muhammad Irshad Ullah
PESHAWAR: Community leaders from Oweer valley of Upper Chitral have urged the federal and provincial governments as well as Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) to restore mobile connectivity in their area.
For the past two months, residents have been completely cut off due to the shutdown of Telenor tower No. 33.
Speaking at a press conference held at Peshawar Press Club on Sunday, Zar Ahmad Khan, President of Jazba-e-Khidmat Tanzeem Chitral, along with other local elders expressed concern over the continued communication blackout.
They noted that the disruption has especially impacted overseas Pakistanis, who are unable to contact their families in Oweer, causing immense emotional strain.
Mr Khan accused Telenor Pakistan of reneging on repeated commitments to the community.
“Despite multiple agreements and assurances, Telenor has failed to restore services and has left the people of Oweer in complete isolation,” he stated.
Recent heavy snowfall has further worsened conditions in the mountainous region, damaging roads and other essential infrastructure.
“Transporting patients to hospitals now takes days due to the poor condition of roads. The area is in complete isolation,” Khan added.
The speakers also criticized government apathy toward the region. They pointed out that despite Chitral’s vital contribution to the tourism sector and national economy, the area continues to be neglected in terms of basic services.
Having exhausted all formal avenues, including appeals to both the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and federal governments, the community leaders said they were left with no choice but to approach the media to raise awareness of their plight.
The press conference was attended by prominent local figures including former UC Nazim Habibuddin, patron-in-chief Shafiq-ul-Mulk, Haji Sher Aziz, Haji Islamuddin, Azam Khan, Musa Muhammad, and renowned religious scholar Sheikh-ul-Hadith Maulana Rahmat Nazir. They collectively demanded urgent action to resolve long-standing issues affecting the people of Chitral.
The residents called on the government to either ensure the immediate restoration of Telenor services or bring in an alternative network provider to reconnect the region with the rest of the country.
“This is not just a matter of connectivity – it’s a matter of survival and dignity for a proud and patriotic community,” the speakers concluded.