CHITRAL: The residents of mountainous Arkari valley in Lower Chitral have said the realignment and reconstruction of the road to their area has brought about a ‘revolution’ in their lives.

Representatives of a local organiation, including Mirza Shah, Nadir Khan and Hassan Dulla, told Dawn on Sunday that the road had replaced a narrow bumpy track from Ruji village on the main Garam Chahsma Road to the valley, which used to remain closed during the three winter months due to snowfall.

They said only four-wheeler jeeps could run on the old track, and fatal accidents occurred frequently. They said a jeep plunged into the river, killing 18 people.

The villagers said the 32-kilometre road was re-aligned by Aga Khan Rural Support Programme under its Central Asian Poverty Programme. They said that the road heralded progress and prosperity for the valley by opening it to the outer world.

They said the road provided farm to market transportation facility, encouraging people to grow potatoes, beans and tomatoes on commercial scale.

They said farmers were the largest beneficiary of the road as their farming was established on new path with the advent of allied farm machinery, including tractors and threshers, and non-local traders of vegetables and fruits now purchased their produce at competitive prices.

The villagers said extra amount of money received by farmers raised their standard of living as most people were associated with farming.

The residents said women had equally benefited from the road project as different organisations reached the valley to impart training to them on kitchen gardening, honeybee keeping and greenhouse farming.

They said hectic activity of mining of different metallic and non-metallic mines and minerals had started in the upper pasture of the valley after completion of the road, and presently a large number of people were employed there.

Published in Dawn, April 1st, 2024