Rs5b sought for timely completion of Lowari project

June 22, 2013 - Peshawar—Former provincial minister and Pakistan People’s PartyParliamentary Leader in KP, Saleem Khan, while terming the allocation of funds Rs 1 billion as insufficient for timely completion of Lowari Tunnel project, demanding the government to allocate Rs 5 billion. Saleem Khan said the government allocated Rs.1 billion against the total cost of Rs.18 billion approved by Executive Committee of National Economic Council (ECNEC) for the completion of this mega development project.

He said Lowari Tunnel is not only essential for Chitral, but also has great significance for the entirecountry. Owing to increasing cost of construction of this project, he informed the allocated funds have been revised at Rs.18 billion against the estimated Rs 8 billion. But, he said, the incumbent government has allocated only Rs 1 billion for this mega PSDP scheme, which is totally unfairallocation.


He expressed fear that the project cost would exceed Rs 24 billion, if the government did not provide required funds for this mega development project. He asked the government to allocate Rs 5 billion before the approval of the Federal Budget. When asked about the slow pace of work on this project during former PPP government, he replied, it was due to poor law and order and re-modification of designing, the construction work was hampered on this project.


He said the Lowari Tunnel project has been re-modified from Rail tunnel to road tunnel, while keeping in view connecting the border region. He rejected that allegations levelled against the PPP government for failure in timely released funds for this project. Highlighting the significance of the project, he said the project would provide a trade-corridor for regional states.


Therefore, he said that government should give maximum attention toward this mega development project. Explaining owes of Chitralis in wake of closure of Lowari Top, he demanded to carry out probe into massive funds embezzlement by Frontier Works Organisation (FWO) andNational Highway Authority. Expressing voice concern over slow pace of the work on Mustuj-Yarkhu road in district Chitral, he informed Rs.350 million had been allocated for construction of 40-km long road, but the work was yet to be started on this road.


He, however, added about 20-km road was constructed with financial assistance of local people. He also demanded the government to take steps for abolishment of illegal taxes on various bridges on small canals in district Chitral.

Pakistan Observer