BATTAGRAM: Work on a China-Pakistan Economic Corridor-related road resumed here on Saturday after the project-affected people and district administration held successful talks.

The people had forcibly halted work on the road over non-payment of compensation for their land and houses to be affected by the project according to the market value.

The development came during a jirga here, where deputy commissioner Sardar Asad Haroon was in the chair.

Noted among participants were MNA Qari Mohammad Yusuf, district nazim Attaur Rehman Khan, DC Sardar Asad Haroon, tehsil nazim Niaz Mohammad Khan, tehsil naib nazim Hazrat Yusuf, former provincial minister Yusuf Khan, former DPO Riaz Khan, CPEC Action Committee representative Anwar Baig and Attaullah Khan Banian, and Colonel Abdullah.

Mr Anwar Baig said the landowners weren’t opposed to the CPEC project and instead, they just wanted the government to fulfil its commitments made to them.

Mr Banian said the district administration made many commitments in the past but didn’t fulfil them and thus, causing suspension of work on the CPEC road.

Deputy commissioner Sardar Asad Haroon said all lawful demands of the CPEC-affected people were acceptable to the administration.

He said the payment of compensation money to landowners would begin on Aug 15 and that the land from Kas Pul to Thakot area had been declared commercial.

The DC said commercial rate would be applied to the property in areas, where mutation tax was collected on commercial basis.

He said all genuine concerns of the project-affected people would be addressed.

On the occasion, Colonel Abdullah said some mistakes made by the NHA officials needed to be corrected, while all issues should be resolve in line with the law of the land.

He added that by stopping the construction work of CPEC will cause billions of loss to the government exchequer At the end of the jirga, a committee of 10 people was formed.

It comprises deputy commissioner Sardar Asad Haroon, district nazim Attaur Rehman Khan, district police officer Syed Rasool Shah, Anwar Baig, Mohammad Rafique, Attaullah Khan Banian, Gul Mohammad Khan, Mohammad Sheesh, AC revenue and tehsildar to examine affairs of the CPEC-related issues.

It will meet every week.

Published in Dawn, July 9th, 2017