MANSEHRA: The Mansehra police have closed their three checkpoints in Kaghan valley following the first snowfall of the winter season.

As the snow fell in the region last week, trucks laden with goods of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor project stopped using the Mansehra-Naran-Jalkhad Road.

“We have closed down our three checkposts in upper parts of Kaghan valley as the movement of trucks and other China-Pakistan Economic Corridor project consignments through Mansehra-Naran-Jalkhad road has stopped in light of snowfall in the valley,” district police officer Ahsan Saifullah told reporters here on Wednesday.

He said the checkposts were closed in Battakundai, Barawai and Soch areas.

Trucks laden with CPEC project goods stop using local road due to snowfall

“Now, Naran, too, has received the first snowfall of the season. We’ll close local checkpost as well in a week or two,” he said.

Mr. Saifullah said four policemen were killed after being trapped at checkposts in upper parts of Kaghan valley in October last year and that the police remained present in the valley until now due to the prolonged dry spell.

“Though the people of Naran valley, including businessmen, have already migrated to lower parts of the district to spend the winter season due to heavy snowfall, we want to ensure the police’s presence in the valley until a single person is there,” he said.

The DPO said Kaghan valley had received more than 20 feet snowfall in October last year.

He said tourists could visit Naran but won’t be allowed to go beyond the commercial headquarters of Kaghan valley due to the fears of deadly landslides.

SECRETARY SUMMONED: The Abbottabad circuit bench of the Peshawar High court has summoned the local government secretary to explain position in a case about the alleged inequality in the distribution of funds to the district council members.

The PTI members of the district council had moved the bench against the district nazim earlier this month seeking equal distribution of developmental funds to councillors.

“The case gained much importance after the court combined all such cases from Battagram, Mansehra and Abbottabad districts and summoned the local government secretary to appear before it for explanation,” councillor Ambreen Swati told reporters here on Wednesday.

Ms Swati said women councillors, who had signed the petition filed by opposition leader in the district council Shahid Rafiq, demanded development funds as were awarded to their male colleagues.

Published in Dawn, December 15th, 2016