KURRAM: Major roads in Kurram tribal district are in bad shape, causing numerous difficulties to commuters and motorists.

The Thall-Parachinar highway, which also serves as the main trade route with Afghanistan, also lies in a shambles. Big potholes along the road have also become a nuisance to the people.

The local people complain that the dilapidated road has also been causing dust pollution, resulting in various chest and respiratory diseases among the commuters.

Mohammad Ejaz, a resident, said the people encountered difficulties especially in shifting their patients to hospitals in the area and other cities because of the bad road.

He quoted local officials as claiming that tenders for the road reconstruction had been floated and said that physical work was yet to be started.

When contacted for comments, MNA Sajid Turi said the matter had been taken up with the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Highway Authority.

He said the KPHA officials told him that Rs7 billion had been allocated for the repair and rehabilitation of the main highway. He said that work on Karakhela, Borki and Kharlachi roads was in progress.

The MNA admitted that roads in Parachinar city and other parts of Kurram valley were in a shambles.

KPHA executive engineer in Kurram district, Nisar Mehsud, said preparations for reconstruction of the main highway had been completed, but the delay was caused by a fault in setting up bitumen plant for the road projects.

He said cold weather was another reason for delay in execution of the highway project.

Published in Dawn, January 25th, 2021