CHITRAL: The daily usage time of Lowari tunnel for public transport has been cut by half though it was being kept open round-the-clock for the last two years after its inauguration in August 2017.

According to the revised schedule issued by National Highway Authority here on Thursday, the tunnel will remain open from 4am to 7am, 9am to 12 noon, 2pm to 5pm and from 7pm to 10pm with a break of two hours each, while it will remain closed for six hours in the night.

District nazim Maghfirat Shah, meanwhile, rejected the schedule and said that there was no justification for the NHA to keep the tunnel closed to public transport for 12 hours a day while no work was carried out inside it.

Chitral nazim rejects NHA’s schedule for tunnel closure

Talking to mediapersons in his office, the nazim said that the new schedule drastically reducing the opening duration of the tunnel would affect tourism by discouraging the tourists coming to the valley.

He said that the new schedule would put the commuters in trouble during Ramazan as the people preferred to travel at nighttime. He warned the government that if the schedule was not withdrawn it could create law and order situation because the troubled people would start protests.

PEOPLE’S PROBLEMS DISCUSSED: The meeting of Civil-Military Liaison Committee (CMLC), Chitral, took up a number of issues of public importance and discussed ways to resolve them.

Headed by commandant of Chitral Task Force Col Moeenuddin, the meeting was attended by the district nazim, Chitral Lower DC Khurshid Alam Mehsud, DPO Mohammad Furqan, representatives of civil society organisations and heads of various departments.

The issue of overbilling and poor service offered by Pesco in Chitral was also discussed and termed a potential danger for peace and tranquility. The reservations of people of Baroghil regarding the national park set up there and ignoring the residents in the employment process also came under discussion. It was suggested that a meeting of the high-ups of wildlife department, elected representatives and stakeholders should be held in Baroghil to address the reservations of local people. It was felt that a price control mechanism should be devised before Ramazan.

The participants showed concern over the dilapidated condition of Chitral-Booni road and held the communication and works department responsible for the mess.

Published in Dawn, April 26th, 2019