LANDI KOTAL: Political Agent Khalid Mehmud announced on Tuesday that the road linking Bara with Tirah valley would be opened within a week.

Addressing a gathering of Bar Qambarkhel tribesmen in Bara, he said that instructions were issued to the quarters concerned to ensure security and opening of the road to facilitate safe travelling up to the valley.

The announcement regarding opening of more than 100 kilometres long road connecting Tirah with Bara plains via Mastak valley had been made for the third time during the last one year of its completion.

Sources said that the road opening was initially delayed due to damage to a potion of Mastak bridge, caused by flash floods soon after its completion. They said that both security and administration officials were apprehensive about the security of the road as they still believed that safe travelling could not be fully ensured.

The residents of Bagh-Maidan in Tirah valley and Bara have been demanding opening of the road as it is the shortest route to the valley. They argue that it will take them only two and half hours to reach any destination in Tirah valley after opening of the road.

The local resident use the long route passing through Kohat, Hangu and Orakzai Agency that takes almost six hours to reach Bagh-Maidan Markaz.

Speaking on the occasion, the political agent said that cooperation between the local tribes and administration was imperative for lasting peace in the war-ravaged Bara.

He demanded of Qambarkhel elders to fulfil their responsibilities under the existing administrative system.

The Qambarkhel elders demanded of the political agent to ensure provision of clean drinking water, curtail electricity loadshedding and reopen offices of all the government departments after the reopening of administration offices in Bara.

Published in Dawn, January 24th, 2018