GHALANAI: Local elders on Friday complained about poor road, health and education infrastructure in Pandiali tehsil of Mohmand Agency and demanded of the political authorities to provide them with the basic facilities on a war footing.

They were speaking at an open kutcheri chaired by additional political agent Hamid-ur-Rahman

The elders, including Malik Mohammad Younis Khan, Malik Syed Mehmood Jan, Haji Ismail Sher, Malik Muzamil Khan, Malik Sartaj Khan Dawezai and others said Chopan-Sarala road was in bad condition and demanded its reconstruction and expansion.

They said the road project should be included in next year’s ADP.

The elders said Pandiali had a population of 70,000 people, but the only basic health unity lacked lady and male doctors and others basic facilities like a laboratory, X-ray machine and ambulance.

They also demanded construction of a degree college in the area. They said leakage in the local small dam should be plugged. They said some tribesmen were using water from the dam for irrigation purposes without the permission of the administration.

They demanded compensation for the people whose lands were used up for the dam project.

They complained that due to long power outages the people were facing problems, particularly water shortage.

On the occasion, APA Hamid-ur-Rahman said peace had been restored in the area due to the sacrifices rendered by the tribesmen. He said expansion of 15-kilometre Chopan-Sarlara road would be included in the next ADP. He said the administration had sanctioned development schemes on the basis of population.

“We are focusing on Safi, Dawezai and Ambar tehsils because these areas are militancy-hit,” he said, assuring the people of Pandiali that staff would be appointed to the local basic health unit.

He directed the department concerned to constitute a committee to resolve the issue of land compensation.

Published in Dawn, March 31st, 2018