BAJAUR: Work on a long-stalled road project in a hilly area of Salarzai tehsil finally resumed on Sunday after residents agreed to give land for it.

The construction work on the five-kilometre Danqool-Saroowano Road, which had been suspended since 2018 after people refused to give their land, was resumed following successful talks between the landowners and a group of elders of different tribes of Salarzai tehsil. The district administration had tasked the elders with amicably resolving the issue, according to an official statement issued from the deputy commissioner’s office.

The work on the road was launched after the talks, which were led by Khar assistant commissioner Dr Sadiq Ali. The landowners were assured of compensation as per the provincial government’s land acquisition policy.

Dr Ali said that the project would open a new era of development and prosperity in the region.

The road would connect dozens of villages in the hilly area.

SEALED: The district administration on Sunday sealed two stone crushing plants for operating illegally in Khar tehsil.

The plants located in Raghagan area were sealed by a team of district administration officials for operating without a no-objection certificate, according to a statement from the office of the deputy commissioner.

It stated that the visiting officials also observed that the stone crushing plants were not following the measures obligatory for keeping the environment clean and healthy.

Published in Dawn, February 17th, 2025