CHITRAL: The residents of Karimabad valley of Chitral on Tuesday demanded of the government to restore the 13 jeepable suspension bridges and the valley road, which was washed away by flood four years ago.

Addressing a press conference here, the elders, including former district naib nazim Sultan Shah, Mohammad Yaqub, Abdul Murad and others, set a 15-day deadline for start of work on restoration of the bridges. They warned that if their demand was not met the people of the valley would start a march towards the district headquarters.

They said that the valley was the major producer of bean, tomato, lady finger, pulses and apple, which were supplied to major markets of the district. They said that the absence of roads had been inflicting heavy losses on the farmers, whose produce could not be transported to the desired markets.

They said that the valley formed the backward union council of the district, which had been neglected by the successive governments. They said that the road and bridges were constructed on self-help basis by the people, but now the restoration of these facilities was beyond their physical and financial capacity. They criticised MPA Salim Khan, saying that he had also been ignoring the welfare of the local people.

Published in Dawn February 4th , 2015

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