KHAR: The residents of Charmang, a scenic valley of Bajaur tribal district, on Monday demanded provision of basic facilities and rehabilitation of the damaged infrastructure in the region.

They told Dawn that almost all infrastructures in Charmang had been damaged owing to militancy and war against terrorism. They said that roads, electricity supply system, schools and health units were badly affected in the region.

They said that the damaged facilities in dozens of villages of the region, having about 180,000 population, were yet to be rehabilitated despite lapse of more than 10 years.

The local people said that basic facilities in Hilalkhel, Asgahr and Manogi areas were badly damaged.

Irfan Khan, a social activist, told this correspondent that infrastructures in almost all areas of Charmang were damaged in 2008-2009. He said that senior officials and local lawmaker during their visit to the area about one year ago promised to rehabilitate the damaged infrastructures within two months.

Militancy-hit valley being ignored for the last 10 years

However, Irfan Khan said, no concrete step was taken for the purpose and no official or lawmaker visited the area again.

Aslam Khan, a local elder, told this correspondent that most of the areas of the region had been without electricity for the last 10 years when the power supply lines were damaged by militants. He said that suspension of power supply to the region had caused numerous difficulties to the local people.

The local people said that suspension of electricity caused shortage of water and they were forced to fetch water from far-flung localities.

They said that Tesco officials promised them to restore supply of electricity to the region some two years ago. However, they said that they failed to start work on it.

According to them, poles of electricity in some areas posed serious threats to lives of their children as they were playing with them. They said that there was no girls school and health unit in the entire region.

They demanded the chief minister, district administration and officials of the relevant departments to take serious notice of their troubles and start work on rehabilitation of the damaged infrastructure in the region.

Published in Dawn, September 10th, 2019