CHITRAL: Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Syed Khurshid Shah on Wednesday visited the flood affected Garam Chashma, Reshun and Booni here.

Talking to reporters on the occasion, he asked PTI chief Imran Khan to concentrate all his attention on rehabilitation of flood hit people in Chitral instead of criticizing the Sindh government for not doing enough in Thar.

He expressed dissatisfaction over the relief and rehabilitation activities and asked the government to show tangible progress instead of announcements.

Mr Shah claimed free wheat was supplied to the affected people of Thar whose population was about 900,000, and alleged Imran Khan had failed to deliver even a single bag of wheat to the flood affected people in Chitral whose population was less than one-third of Thar.

The opposition leader said no proper step had been taken for rehabilitation of infrastructure in Chitral.

Mr Shah said Chitral had always been stronghold of PPP and the people had special bond for late party chief Zulfiqar Bhutto who had initiated work on the Lowari Tunnel project.

On the occasion, PPP leader Zamrud Khan announced to provide free education up to graduation level to about 300 children of the flood affected people aging between 4 to 6 years.

The opposition leader was accompanied by MNA Dr Nafisa Shah, Samina Khalid and former federal minister Najmuddin Khan.  

YOUTH CONVENTION: Speakers at a youth convention here on Wednesday hailed the role of youth for quickly responding to the recent flash floods and glacial outbursts across Chitral.

The one-day convention was organised under the aegis of Aga Khan Rural Support Programme (AKRSP).

The speakers said the youth showed volunteerism during the disaster and helped alleviate the sufferings of the affected people.

“It were the youth who relentlessly worked to reopen the road from Garam Chashma to Shoghore which was damaged by the flash floods. They were also seen carrying on their shoulders bags of edibles to Kalash valley of Bumburate while passing through the impassable mountains at the very risk of their lives,” said a speaker.

“The youth had dominated the relief and rescue operations in all the affected areas of Chitral,” another speaker observed.

They noted that the Chitral youth took the volunteerism to the new heights in an area which was prone to natural hazards.

On the occasion, activists of different youth organisations shared their experience and success stories and stressed the need for streamlining and coordinating efforts of youth to more effectively cope with natural disasters.

Medals and certificates were given away to the youth leaders.

Published in Dawn, August 13th, 2015

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