UPPER DIR: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has said that delays in providing compensation to those affected by the earthquake would not be tolerated. He was speaking at a gathering at District Hall Council on Thursday during his visit to Upper Dir.

The prime minister directed the district administration to distribute the compensation cheques before Nov 25 so that houses destroyed or damaged could be rebuilt before winter. During his visit, Mr Sharif also distributed cheques among the affectees. He was accompanied by the governor of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Sardar Mehtab Ahmed Khan, Federal Information Minister Pervez Rashid, adviser to the prime minister Ameer Muqam, and Jamaat-i-Islami’s MNA Sahibzada Tariqullah.

Also read: Quake-hit people get compensation cheques in Lower Dir

Mr Sharif said the federal government was focusing on developing Upper Dir, working on the Lowari tunnel mega project which was still under-construction would be completed next year and constructing the Chikdara-Dir-Chitral road. He added that the Upper Dir grid station would be upgraded to 132 kv.

“Rs500 billions is being spent on two mega projects, Chikdara-Dir-Chitral Road and upgradation of the grid station to 132kv,” he said, adding that he hoped the region would be brought at par with other developed districts after the Lowari tunnel and Chikdara-Dir-Chitral road projects were completed.

The prime minister expressed hope that the load-shedding problem would be solved in two-and-a-half-years.

Mr Sharif said the federal government had not abandoned the earthquake affectees, adding that he had reached them immediately after the calamity. He regretted that due to a severe shortage of gas new connections could not be provided in the area.

He added that Upper Dir would be on top of the list in providing gas pipelines as soon as the gas supply improved.

Elaborate security arrangements were made for the prime minister’s visit. Personnel of the army, police and levies were deployed on the roads and hilltop of Dir town.

Meanwhile, elected local government representatives and quake affectees held a protest against the administration for barring their entry to the venue. The protesters held placards and shouted slogans such as “Go Nawaz Go”. Afterwards, Mr Sharif came out of the district council hall and delivered a brief speech to the protesters to console them. He assured them that efforts were being made to mitigate their suffering.

Published in Dawn, November 20th, 2015