CHITRAL: Work on realignment, widening and blacktopping of roads to all the three Kalash valleys of Bumburate, Birir and Rumbur would be started during the first quarter of next year, said Special Assistant to Chief Minister Wazir Zada.

Addressing a khuli kutchery in Bumburate valley, attended by Malakand Commissioner Syed Zaheerul Islam Shah and other officials, he said that construction of roads was entrusted to National Highway Authority, which would ensure international standard in the project.

He said that tourism would flourish in the valleys after they were connected by all-weather roads to Chitral-Peshawar road near Ayun valley while duration of journey to the valleys would be cut short by half that would attract a large number of tourists.

Wazir Zada said that government was giving top priority to roads in the district, which had hitherto been neglected by the successive governments.

He said that federalisation of Chitral-Shandur and Garum Chashma Road was another intervention of the government to show its earnestness.

He said that all the tourist resorts both in Upper and Lower Chitral were being promoted to fully exploit their potentials while Madak Lusht valley had been given the status of special zone for connecting it with the other parts.

He added that an amount of Rs4 billion was earmarked for construction of the road.

Responding to the demands of the people about provision of doctor to Bumburate hospital, starting of classes in the higher secondary school, construction of government building as per Kalasha architecture, he directed the heads of the departments concerned to resolve the issues on priority basis.

The commissioner, Syed Zaheerul Islam Shah, said that holding of khuki kutchery was meant to come into direct contact with the people and know about their problems and take action on the spot in the presence of the officers of the departments concerned.

Published in Dawn, December 25th, 2020