KHYBER: Elders of the Kukikhel tribe, members of local government and civil society have demanded speedy return of all the displaced families and early completion of work on a key road.

They made the demands during an open kutcheri called by the district administration at the Jamrud Jirga Hall on Wednesday. The elders and councillors argued that though the return of Kukikhel families to Rajgal and adjoining areas had started, but the process was slow. They regretted that the damage assessment survey was also going on at slow pace.

The elders and councillors alleged that most of the returning families were living in either damaged houses or tents as they awaited payment of compensation to rebuild their houses.

They informed the officials that the contractor had long abandoned construction of a seven-kilometre road, which led to the sprawling Ghundi residential area, between Chota Nehr and Sakhi Bazaar, and had also shifted the machinery to another area.

The road, the participants said was currently in bad shape, troubling commuters and transporters. They alleged that substandard material was used in the Jamrud Bazaar beautification project and demanded of the authorities to take action against those responsible in squandering development funds.

Officials on the occasion assured the participants that all their grievances would be addressed in due course of time.

Published in Dawn, April 21st, 2022