Zulfiqar Ahmad
ISLAMABAD: A famine-like situation is feared in Upper Chitral due to “mismanagement and incompetence” by the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa food department officials who failed to ensure supply of wheat to the district despite repeated requests by the local.
Talking to ChitralToday, Shahzada Sikanderul Mulk, a local leader of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), accused the food department officials, especially those at Malakand Division, of intentionally creating an artificial wheat shortage in the backward and remote district.
He said Upper Chitral district was facing a severe wheat shortage and locals had begun staging protests against the provincial government after it took no notice of their requests.
“We’ve knocked all the doors to ensure supply of wheat to the area in time, but nobody at the helm of affairs is ready to listen to us,” he regretted.
He warned that the people would be left with no option but to take to the street against KP food department officials as the issue has already been brought in the notice of the deputy commissioner upper Chitral.
He categorically said the district administration Upper Chitral would be held directly responsible if a law and order situation was created in the area as they are not taking the issue seriously for reasons best known to them.
He also accused DC Upper Chitral Manzoor Ahmad Afridi of acting as a silent spectator despite knowing the newly created district was facing severe wheat shortage which is unfortunate.
“The DC simply doesn’t know what he is supposed to do in a such a situation,” he lamented.
The DC Upper Chitral could not be reached for comments despite repeated attempts. He did not even respond to a text message sent at his cell number.
When approached, Deputy Commissioner Lower Chitral Anwarul Haq said there was no shortage of wheat in Lower Chitral. However, he said he would raise the issue with authorities concerned in his personal capacity.