UPPER DIR: Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz provincial president Eng Amir Muqam said here on Thursday that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif approved construction of Gilgit-Chitral-Dir-Chakdara road under China-Pakistan Economic Corridor to put the area on track of development.

Addressing a public meeting at Dir Stadium, he said that the road being an alternative route of CEPC would prosperity to the region. He said that inclusion of the area in CPEC would open a new avenue of progress and prosperity. He said that the decision to include Gilgat-Chitral-Chikadara route in CPEC would become a game changer for the area.

MPA Sobia Khan, PML-N district president Nisar Wardag, Malak Jehanzeb and other local leaders of the party were also present on the occasion.

Mr Muqam, who is also adviser to prime minister, said that Rs17 billion would be spent to widen Dir road and Malakand Tunnel. He said that Chinese bank was assisting them to widen the road.

He alleged that Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf and Jamaat-i-Islami were deceiving people. He said that provincial government could not show its performance. He said that provincial government was unable to see the development projects of the federal government in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Mr Muqam said that Imran Khan and Sirajul Haq should check their performance before criticising Nawaz Sharif. He directed the officials of National Highways Authority to complete survey of Lowari tunnel project.

He said that federal government was striving to end power crisis. He said that Rs4 billion was being spent to upgrade Chukiatan and Wari grade stations.

The PML-N leader said that they would compete with PTI during 2018 general elections in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and other parts of the country. He said that the presence of young people in the public meeting was the manifestation of a real change, which could not be reversed.

Published in Dawn, May 19th, 2017