19 November 2004	Friday	06 Shawwal 1425

PESHAWAR, Nov 18: The Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal MNA from Chitral, Maulana Abdul Akbar Chitrali, has said that recent heavy snowfall had caused widespread damage in the valley and asked the government to announce a relief package for the affected people.

According to his estimates, 19 people had died and hundreds of head of cattle perished during last month's natural disaster.

Speaking at a press conference here on Thursday, he demanded that the government declare Chitral a calamity-hit area and compensate people for their losses resulting from the unexpected snowfall and landslides.

He said heavy snowfall hit several parts of the district, and among the dead were women and children. He added that more than 16,187 head of cattle perished.

He said that 996 houses had collapsed while 6,998 suffered partial damage in Mastooj, Booni, Garam Chashma, Kalash valleys and other high-altitude areas of the district. Apart from this, 70 per cent standing crops had been destroyed in the valley, he added.

Chitral received 1.5 inches of snow on Oct 10 which played havoc with crops and orchards while the Lowari Pass - the only land route linking Chitral with the rest of the country - was also closed for traffic.

The Maulana criticized the federal government for not announcing compensation for the affected people, saying that Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz should visit this backward part of the country and unveil a compensation package.

He said the NWFP Chief Minister Akram Khan Durrani would visit the area on Nov 29 and announce a package.