Shahzad Ahmad Shahzad
BOONI: Amid growing concerns over the pace and transparency of the Booni-Buzund Road project in Upper Chitral, Special Assistant to the Chief Minister for Communication and Works (C&W) Sohail Khan Afridi has directed the Executive Engineer (XEN) Upper Chitral to submit a detailed report regarding advance payments allegedly made to the project contractor.
He issued the directive during a meeting with Deputy Speaker of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly Suriya Bibi in Peshawar.
Ms Suriya raised public concerns regarding the slow progress, funding delays, and possible financial irregularities related to the federally funded road project under the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP).
Reports circulating on social media suggest that substantial advance payments were released to the contractor, raising questions about accountability and the project\’s execution standards.
Responding promptly, Mr Afridi made a direct telephone call to the XEN, seeking clarity on the payment status and demanding a comprehensive status report.
Deputy Speaker Suraiya reiterated the strategic importance of the Booni-Buzund Road for regional connectivity and development, urging strict oversight to ensure transparency and timely completion.
The deputy speaker also spoke about the ADP 2025–26 and presented recommendations along with a detailed report for including various proposed development projects in Chitral, including the Mastuj-Broghil Road (153 kilometers) in the PSDP.
She emphasized the importance of these projects, stressing that their inclusion is crucial for bringing the remote areas of Upper Chitral into the mainstream of development.