PESHAWAR, Feb 22: MNA Abdul Akbar Chitrali has demanded that the federal government should announce an immediate relief package for the avalanche-and rain-hit people of his native district Chitral.

"Some 1,50,000 people out of a population 400,000 were directly affected by the avalanche and recent torrential rains in the district", Mr Chitrali said at a news conference at Peshawar Press Club on Tuesday.

People have run short of food items and livestock and were in bad condition. He feared that the people could die due to starvation if food items and medical supplies weren't arranged on urgent basis.

The prices food items have gone up and people were unable to purchase them. Most of the affected people were passing days and nights without having a one time meal. He said that most of the houses in villages including Tarich, Nidshako, Madak, Zaizdi, Yaroghli, Madak Lisht, Braid and Rimbore of Kalash valley and Irkari were under heavy snow.