Wednesday, December 19, 2012 - Chitral—Complete shutter down strike was observed in Chitral on the call of trade union and all parties leaders on Tuesday. Addressing the public on this occasion, representatives of trade union said that Lawari tunnel is opened on Monday, Wednesday and Friday only for 3 hours and remains closed for 4 days in this winter season where main road ofChitral have been blocked on Lawari top.
They said that present government had been silent for more than four years and now they had started work on Lawari tunnel when elections were nearing. They demanded the Federal government to open Lawari tunnel 4 hours on daily basis because due to opening of Tunnel for only three years mostly transporters avoid to travel because they have to wait at Chitral and Dir for 2 days. As a result a large number of passengers have to wait for vehicles and some time they get no vehicle and had to face problems.
They urged the National Highway Authority to arrange opening of Lawari tunnel on daily basis or they should suspend work on the tunnel until opening of main Chitral road on Lawari top. Trade union leaders criticized closing of tunnel for four days and termed it a cause for shortage of edible things. While on the other hand due to rush of vehicles at a time inside the tunnel it was also causing suffocation and thick smoke.
During the strike all shops, chemists and druggists, hotels, poultry shops, grocers , backers and bread shops remained closed the whole day. A public meeting was also held at Ataleeq square where representatives of trade union and leaders of different political parties delivered speeches. A large number of people attended the meeting.
Courtesy: Pakistan Observer