MANSEHRA: Supreme Court of Pakistan on Friday directed the federal and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa governments to submit a comprehensive report on rehabilitation and reconstruction progress in the red zone areas of Balakot.

“The apex court has ordered the KP and federal governments to present a detailed report on the measures they have taken so far for the rehabilitation and reconstruction of survivors of the 2005 earthquake in Balakot’s red zone,” senior lawyer Munir Hussain Lughmani told a presser here.

Mr Lughmani, who is also an MPA from Balakot, appeared earlier in the day before the apex court in connection with a petition filed by a social activist, Sheeraz Mehmood Qurashi (late) in 2012, and sought allotment of plots to red zone survivors in the New Balakot City housing project.

“The foundation stone of this mega housing project meant for the settlement of red zone survivors was laid in 2007 by then army ruler Gen Pervez Musharraf with Rs13 billion funds. However, the project remains in limbo,” he said.

Lawyer says court also sought details of funds donated, spent on 2005 quake survivors

Mr Lughmani said a six-member bench of the Supreme Court led by Justice Aminudden Khan not only sought a detailed report on rehabilitation and reconstruction activities in Balakot’s red zone but also ordered a breakup of the international funds donated and spent on the survivors of the earthquake that struck 19 years ago.

“The bench also raised a critical question asking who is responsible for the delay in completing this mega housing project. Nearly two decades have passed, and a generation has grown up waiting,” Mr Lughmani said.

Former Balakot tehsil nazim Rustom Khan and Malik Maroof, a representative of people of Garlat, were also present in the court on behalf of the red zone survivors and demanded an early allotment of plots in the New Balakot City project.

GAS SUPPLY: Residents on Friday urged the federal government to ensure supply of natural gas to Oghi and its surrounding areas.

“Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif launched a gas supply project for Oghi and Tarnawal areas in 2016 with an allocation of Rs9 billion. However, we are still deprived of this facility,” Waqar Ahmad, a traders’ leader, told reporters in Oghi.

Flanked by a group of traders and residents, he said the then Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf federal government halted the project in 2020 even though supply lines from Mansehra to Oghi had been laid at great expense to the national exchequer.

“If the federal government allocates a small amount to lay service lines, the residents of Oghi town and its suburbs could finally benefit from natural gas,” Mr Ahmad said.

“The residents of Oghi and nearby areas rely on firewood for domestic and commercial purposes, leading to significant deforestation and environmental degradation in the area,” Mr Ahmad said.

He also pointed out that roads, including Shergar-Oghi, where pipelines were laid, had not been reconstructed causing hardships for motorists.

“The federal government should expedite the supply of natural gas to Oghi and its suburbs to prevent deforestation and improve the quality of life for residents,” he said.

Published in Dawn, November 23rd, 2024