Peshawar, Oct 8, 2025: A Peshawar High Court bench, comprising Justice Arshad Ali and Justice Waqar Ahmed, summoned the federal government to respond regarding the construction of the Garam Chashma–Dorah Pass Road (82.5 km).
Former Chitral MPA and provincial minister Salim Khan, represented by advocate Sher Haider Khan, filed the petition challenging the federal government’s decision to exclude this crucial road from the Public Sector Development Program (PSDP) for the fiscal year 2025-2026.
Speaking to media, Salim Khan emphasized that road networks play a vital role in regional development. He said that well-constructed roads facilitate travel and open avenues for economic, social, and educational growth. “Without proper roads, development slows down, and fundamental services such as healthcare, education, and commerce suffer,” he noted.
Salim Khan added that Chitral’s predominantly rural population faces severe difficulties, especially during heavy rains, which disrupt daily life and transportation. He pointed out that the Garam Chashma–Dorah Pass Road can serve as the link route connecting Chitral to Central Asia and criticized authorities for long neglecting infrastructure in the region.
He stressed that providing safe and accessible roads falls under the state’s constitutional responsibilities.
The petition further stated that the federal government previously allocated funds for the road under the 2017-2018 PSDP, but later cancelled them under allegedly irregular circumstances, delaying development in the area.
Economically, the road will serve as a strategic trade route, linking Pakistan with Afghanistan, Badakhshan, Samarkand, and other Central Asian cities. Salim Khan said that constructing the road would boost trade, tourism, and cultural exchange, strengthen Pakistan’s regional connectivity, and provide alternative trade routes to Central Asia and Russia.
He concluded that completing this road could generate long-term economic benefits for Chitral and neighboring regions, secure the area’s strategic importance, and ensure sustainable growth for future generations.