SWABI: Dilapidated condition of roads in Swabi district has been creating difficulties to people, especially business community.

Talking to Dawn, people said that due to deep ditches it was difficult to go through the 10-kilomtere stretch of Swabi-Pirtab road.

The road is widely used by Afghan nationals of Gohati refugee camp to reach the district headquarters to sell different items in various villages daily.

Similarly, four-kilometer-long Gulama-Parmuli road has developed potholes, making it difficult for the motorists to ply on it.

The people said Senior Minister Shahram Khan Tarakai did not bother to visit the area and see the dilapidated condition of the road himself.

“We were expecting a lot from Mr Tarakai but our dreams have been shattered during the last three years,” said Khalid Bacha, a leader of Qaumi Watan Party.

The five-kilometer-long Swabi-Saleem Khan road has been in bad shape with people complaining that despite repeated calls no one bothered to repair the road.

The road built about a decade back for light vehicles is being used by heavy trucks carrying crushed stones from Saleem Khan and Maneri mountains for construction purposes. “Each vehicle is followed by a dust storm,” said Farman Khan.

Ditches have also appeared in the four kilometers Shewa-Spinkani road in Razaar tehsil.

The local people said it was the only road which links their village with the tehsil headquarters, Shewa, and onwards to the district headquarters.

“We have been facing problems travelling on the potholed road,” Ahmad Jan complained.

Meanwhile, the under-construction Zaida-Kalabat road has been dug up by the contractor, who is unwilling to complete the project despite repeated directives by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly Speaker Asad Qaisar.

The locals said that if the road was not completed by the start of monsoon season rainwater would cause damage to their houses.

Published in Dawn, May 6th, 2016