December 14, 2013 - Chitral—Residents of Chitral have demanded of the federal government to open Lawari tunnel on daily basis to save the people from starvation and enable serious patients’ access to hospitals in big cities like Peshawar.
The construction company that is working on the project is reluctant to open the tunnel for traffic on daily basis and they open the tunnel for only one day a week. Although Chief Justice Peshawar High Court Justice Dost Muhammad Khan in his verdict directed the chief secretary of KPK and concerned authorities to open Lawari tunnel on daily basis or at least three days a week but implementation on this court decision is still awaited.
Lawari top remains blocked every year due to heavy snowfall from December to April or May and the Chitral people remain stranded in the valley for the entire period.
At present there is acute shortage of edibles at Chitral market but unfortunately no elected representative is present in the area for redressal of problems of the people. Moreover, the residents said that the Deputy Commissioner Chitral Muhammad Shoaib Jadoon come to his office very late and hesitate to meet any applicant or citizen to hear their problems.
Elites of Chitral said that due to closing of Lawari Top and Lawari tunnel a large number of candidates could not appear in Public Service Commission competition examination and evencourier companies returned some of the candidates’ applications due blockage of road.—INP