Published on July 30, 2026 | Three minutes read time
Khairuddin Shadani
CHITRAL: A meeting of the Prime Minister’s Inspection Commission on Thursday resulted in a series of decisions aimed at speeding up major road and development projects across Chitral.
After the meeting via video link, PML-N Chitral Lower and Upper leaders announced with fresh timelines for work on the Ayun-Kalash valleys road, Garam Chashma and Chitral-Shandur roads.
The meeting was held via Zoom at the Deputy Commissioner’s Office in Lower Chitral and was chaired by Prime Minister’s Inspection Commission Chairman Brigadier (retd) Muzaffar Ali Ranjha.
Prime Minister’s Coordinator for Chitral Abdul Wali Khan, senior PML-N leader Shahzada Iftikharuddin, local PML-N leaders, Upper Chitral PML-N President Syed Ahmad Shah, Lotkuh/Karimabad representative Shakoor Muhammad and officials from several government departments attended the session.
The meeting reviewed the progress of ongoing road schemes and other development projects and set out a number of measures to address delays and move work forward.
Speaking to after the meeting, Abdul Wali Khan thanked Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Brigadier (retd) Ranjha, members of the inspection commission and National Highway Authority officials. He described the meeting as productive and said clear instructions had been issued for the immediate implementation of several decisions.
On the Ayun-Bumburate Road, Khan said asphalt work up to the forest post is scheduled to be completed by August 15. Cutting, leveling and other preliminary works up to Dubash Bridge are expected to be finished by the end of September. Machinery will then be moved to Bumburet to begin the next phase of construction.
Once work in Bumburet is completed, the machinery will be divided between Rumbur and Birir valleys so that construction can proceed simultaneously in all three Kalash valleys.
Khan called the plan a significant development for communities in the area and expressed hope that the road would be completed before the Chilim Kush festival in May next year.
The Garam Chashma Road was another key focus of the meeting. Khan said Shahzada Iftikharuddin raised the concerns of local residents and stressed the importance of improving the route. As an immediate measure, the meeting decided to lay asphalt up to Parabeg under the existing maintenance programme, providing relief on the road’s most damaged sections.
Khan said the commission chairman also confirmed that NESPAK had completed the detailed engineering design for the Garam Chashma-Dorah Pass road. The design is expected to be submitted to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for approval within the next month.
Once approved, the project will move through the required forums, including the Departmental Development Working Party, before being incorporated into the Public Sector Development Programme for funding.
Khan stressed that the current asphalt work should not be confused with the permanent project. The maintenance work is intended to provide immediate relief, while the proposed highway to Dorah Pass will be a separate, large-scale project requiring billions of rupees.
The Chitral-Shandur Road also came under review. Officials decided to deploy machinery at different locations by Sunday to accelerate the remaining work. Plans were also approved for three key bridges to be built as modern steel structures to improve traffic movement and connectivity.
The meeting also examined the continuing erosion problem at Reshun, where the river poses a threat to the road. NHA and irrigation officials agreed to work together on a solution, including the construction of protective walls to shield the road from future flood damage.
Moreover, Yarkhun, Buzund and Mulkhow roads were also discussed, along with other development schemes.
Representatives from different areas highlighted local problems and sought faster action from the relevant departments.
Brigadier Ranjha said the Prime Minister’s Inspection Commission was closely monitoring major road projects in Chitral on the prime minister’s instructions. He said unnecessary delays would not be tolerated and directed the concerned departments to meet the agreed deadlines.
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