CHITRAL, Dec 13: A machine readable passport office was opened here on Saturday, inaugurated by local MNA Shahzada Mohyuddin.

Addressing a public gathering on the occasion, he said the establishment of the passport office was the longstanding demand of the people of Chitral for which he had been striving.

He added the locals, especially youth seeking employment abroad, would now be able to obtain their computerised passports at their doorstep for which they had to travel to Peshawar or Mardan in the past. He maintained that the people also faced immense problems in getting their passports done due to closure of the Lowari Pass in winter

The lawmaker said he had directed the staff at the passport office to facilitate the applicants.

He said work on the first phase of the Lowari Rail Tunnel Project was in full swing and would be completed within a few days. He dispelled the impression given by certain political circles that the work on the project had been stopped due to financial constraints.

He said this project of immense importance could not be abandoned and the government was making earnest efforts to ensure its completion within the stipulated time.

Mr Mohyuddin eulogised the youth working in the overseas for contributing to the development of the area.