GHALANAI: Corps Commander, Peshawar, Lt-Gen Nazir Ahmad Butt on Friday inspected work on Ghalanai-Mamad Ghat highway project being constructed by the Frontier Works Organisation.

FWO DG Major-General Inam Haider Malik and IG FC North Major-General Waseem Ashraf were also present on the occasion. The 43-km highway includes an 800 metres long tunnel at Nahakki, which was inaugurated by the chief of army staff in September 2017.

Speaking on the occasion, the FWO DG said that construction of the road was accelerated since July when a second shift was also started and additional men and machinery were deployed.

“Carpeting of first layer of asphalt has improved the ride quality on the remaining 25-km stretch upwards of Nahakki tunnel toward Mamad Ghat,” he said and added that it had resulted in an increased traffic flow from Bajaur, Upper Dir and Lower Dir since May 2018.

The improved infrastructure has also resulted in enhanced trade activities in the area. Only in the last six months a mushrooming of hotels, petrol pumps and commercial facilities could be witnessed along the road.

The corps commander also met a jirga of tribal elders on the occasion at Mamad Ghat.

The tribal elders thanked the Pakistan Army for bringing peace and stability to Mohmand along with various initiatives in health and education sectors.

Lt-Gen Butt praised the tribal people for their resilience and sacrifices for peace and stability in Mohmand and tribal areas. He congratulated them on the Fata-KP merger and said that it would ensure prosperity and equal opportunities of improved livelihoods for them.

Published in Dawn, September 1st, 2018