CHITRAL: Former MNA Shahzada Iftikhar Uddin has warned that without anti-corruption measures and replacement of current officials concerned, the stalled Booni-Buzund road project risks further delays.
In a statement, Shahzada Iftikhar dismissed rumors that the Booni-Buzund road project had been excluded from the federal budget 2025-26.
He confirmed that the project remains under the Finance Division and is still part of the PSDP.
Shahzada Iftikhar said Minister for Planning Ahsan Iqbal had issued directives to include an additional Rs700 million for the road in the upcoming CDWP agenda. This brings the total federal allocation for the project to Rs1.81 billion.
Originally initiated with Rs280 million by his late father Shahzada Mohiuddin, the project was later expanded under Shahzada Iftikhar’s tenure as MNA, including four RCC bridges and a revised PC-I costing Rs1.11 billion.
He urged Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur to allocate matching funds to extend the road to remote areas like Khot and Rech and to construct the RCC bridge at Washich.
Shahzada Iftikhar warned that without strict anti-corruption measures, including the replacement of current officials and transparent payment systems, the project risks delay or legal complications.
He added that he will meet federal ministers, including Rana Sanaullah and Ahsan Iqbal, and contact former PM Nawaz Sharif in the coming days to ensure continued federal support.
He said that Chitral-Garam Chashma Road project will also be part of the discussions.