CHITRAL: Residents of Chitral have blasted the National Highway Authority for stopping vehicular traffic through the Lowari tunnel, terming it an indiscriminate action.

Social activist Fardad Ali Shah told mediapersons the other day that NHA officials in Lowari tunnel acted arbitrarily by stopping the two-way traffic for hours without any reason.

He said the tunnel had been designed for two-way traffic as was in practice in tunnels of Kohat and Malakand, where vehicles were stopped only for payment of toll tax.

He said that some years ago, a local court had directed the NHA to allow two-way traffic inside the tunnel round the clock as it was unjustified to stop the vehicular traffic for any length of time on their discretion.

“The tunnel has been open for two-way traffic for the last one year, and everything was going on smoothly, but the new project director has reportedly imposed the new restriction,” he said.

Saifur Rehman, chief operating officer of Lowari Tunnel Project, could not be contacted despite repeated calls as each time his cell phone was found switched off.

WORKSHOP: The role of teachers in creation of mass awareness about the climate change and its negative impacts in Chitral were highlighted during a workshop held for the teachers of public sector schools here on Sunday.

Held under the aegis of Aga Khan Agency for Habitat, Pakistan, the workshop recommended a number of steps for including the teachers’ community in the realm of climate change, aimed at preparedness and resilience against the natural hazards.

It was strongly recommended to include the subject of climate change in the school and college textbooks so as to impart a comprehensive knowledge about global warming and climate crisis.

On the occasion, Wali Mohammad Khan, regional programme manager of AKAH, said that his organisation was pursuing a plan to impart awareness about climate change impacts to civil society and government organisations.

Published in Dawn, March 10th, 2025