March 12, 2002	Tuesday	Zilhaj 27, 1422

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CHITRAL, March 11: A large number of Chitrali passengers are stranded in Peshawar due to the closing of the Kunar route through Afghanistan by the Afghan interim administration. The route remained open for them only for one week on the occasion of last Eidul Azha.

A number of passengers reaching here from Peshawar told Dawn that the people were in great trouble there as they were finding it both mentally and financially hard to wait for their turn of PIA seat, which is too costly and beyond the reach of most.

Most of the passengers are those who work there on daily wage in the winter season and earn livelihood for their families as the job opportunities in Chitral are very limited. In most of the cases, the passengers had to cancel their travel to Chitral as they spent their meagre money in Peshawar waiting for the flight.

It may be noted that the PIA fare is more than one thousand rupees while that of a flying coach, running through Afghanistan, only 350 rupees. The closure of the route has annoyed the passengers beyond description.

The PIA flights to Chitral were cancelled for four consecutive days this week and one can well imagine the agony of the passengers who have their turn of flight and those who are waiting for that.

Forced by the miserable conditions in Peshawar, more than 200 passengers tried to cross the snow-clad Lowari Pass the other day but most had to go back while one person lost his life.