PESHAWAR: The elders of various suburban localities of Peshawar have opposed the construction of 48-kilomtre dual carriageway from the provincial metropolis to Torkham and threatened to launch protest against the project unless landowners are paid the compensation amount.

Addressing a news conference at Peshawar Press Club on Monday, MNA Shandana Gulzar said that South Link Road (SLR) project was planned without taking locals and landowners on board.

Local elders and leaders of other political parties from the area, who were present on the occasion, said that the road would affect 1,050 acres agricultural land. They said that the scheme would badly affect residents of about 10 villages including Mera Mashokhel, Mashogagar and others.

They said that a case against construction of the road was already in a court but relevant authorities were least bothered to pay heed to order of court. They said that the issue should be resolved through a committee instead of imposing section four without taking landowners into confidence.

“The road will have a bad impact on socio-economic conditions of people in addition to creating environmental issues in the suburban areas,” said Shandana Gulzar. She said that it was duty of federal government to pay proper compensation to landowners.

She said that federal government should stop stepmother’s treatment with the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. She said that people of KP voted Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf to assemblies and it was not a crime.

“We are not against World Bank and National Highways Authority (NHA) but the people had a right to raise voice for protection of their land properties. Everyone is ready to talk, my constituency has a population of 1600,000 where most of the people are facing problems due to non-availability of power, natural gas and other facilities but federal government is reluctant to release funds for their uplift,” she said.

The MNA said that 100-year old graveyards would be destroyed for the road. She said that they would launch a protest against the forced construction of the road.

“Is it justice to affect 10,000 people for one kilometre of a road,” she questioned. She added the road should be built on an alternative route so that people were not affected.

Published in Dawn, May 7th, 2024