CHITRAL: Members of the local bodies and elders have complained about the lack of road infrastructure and health facilities in Shoghor union council comprising Karimabad, Breshgram and Arkari valleys.

During the ‘Press Forum’ organised by the Chitral Press Club in Shoghor village on Wednesday, councillors Mohammad Ali Shah, Jamadul Karim, Syed Jalaluddin and Rehman Ali Shah and elders Sardar Ali and Mohammad Hasil said the area lacked basic facilities as it was neglected by the previous and current governments to the misery of local residents.

They said no government departments except the education department had done anything tangible in the three valleys.

The councillors and elders said road infrastructure in the area was poor.

They said the area had dirt tracks built by the people on self-help basis in early 1980s and that the people carried out their repairs and maintenance by themselves.

The elders said accidents frequently occurred on the roads claiming more than 105 lives during the last 20 years.

They demanded special package for the development of local roads, which, they said, will bring the area on par with developed villages of the district.

The councillors and elders said the three valleys lacked health facilities though more than 7,000 people lived there.

They complained that the local residents had to go to the DHQ Hospital for diagnosis and treatment as the basic health unit and the Aga Khan Health Centre in Shoghore were understaffed and didn’t have diagnostic facilities.

The elders said many patients, including the injured ones, died before reaching the distant DHQ hospital due to critical condition, while many women delivered babies on the way to the hospital.

They complained that elected members of local bodies neither had authority nor development funds and therefore, the people were disappointed with the local government system.

The elders also demanded massive tree plantation and construction of embankments to protect Shoghore against flash floods.

Published in Dawn, September 1st, 2017