KHAR: The authorities have imposed ban on construction of new shops along the bypass road near Inayat Kallay Bazaar in Bajaur Agency to ensure smooth flow of traffic.

The local people told this correspondent on Sunday that administration banned construction of new shops and other commercial buildings along the bypass road, located outside Inayat Kallay Bazaar, the largest commercial centre of the agency.

They said that several people were busy in construction of shops on their personnel property near by the road when Levies officials came there and ordered them to stop work.

“We don’t know reasons of the order, nor Levies officials informed us about the causes of this decision but they warned that no one would be allowed to carry out any construction work near the bypass road,” said Haji Iqbal Khan, a shop owner.

An official of the local administration, when contacted, confirmed imposition of ban on construction of new shops in the area. He said that the step was taken in the larger interest of local people.

The decision was taken to discourage illegal constructions along the road, the official said. He added that the ban on construction of new shops was imposed on the directives of senior officials to ensure smooth flow of traffic on the road.

Meanwhile, the local people have criticised the local administration for imposing ban on construction of new shops along the bypass road. They said that ban on construction of shops would badly affect a large number of people, who had bought property for commercial purpose.

They urged the administration to lift ban on construction in the area to boost business activities in the region.

ANTI-POLIO DRIVE: The local administration has finalised arrangements for the three-day anti-polio campaign to vaccinate 227,224 children in Bajaur Agency.

The drive will be launched on Monday. A meeting of local administration in this regard was held here on Sunday with Political Agent Abdul Jabar Shah in the chair.