SOUTH WAZIRISTAN: The Wana-Gomal Zam Road, a vital route connecting Lower South Waziristan with Tank, Dera Ismail Khan, Upper South Waziristan, and other regions of the country, remained closed for the second consecutive day on Saturday due to massive landslides triggered by recent torrential rains.

Thousands of commuters, including patients, students, traders, and government employees, are facing difficulties as large portions of the road remain buried under debris, rocks, and mud. The closure has forced many residents to walk for miles, while emergency access to hospitals has become critically delayed.

According to the district administration, the road was blocked following heavy rainfall, which led to multiple landslides. Cleanup operations have been initiated, but the sheer scale of the blockage has slowed progress.

The Wana-Gomal Zam Road is considered the most vital and frequently used artery in Lower South Waziristan. Besides serving the local population, the road is regarded as a key trade corridor connecting Pakistan with Central Asia.

Admin says cleanup operation initiated

Constructed with assistance from Usaid and inaugurated on June 19, 2012, during the tenure of former army chief Gen retired Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, the road was once hailed as a milestone in regional development, security, and trade. However, over the years, the road has fallen into severe disrepair and now fails to withstand even moderate rainfall.

Citizens report that thousands of small and large vehicles use this route daily, and with the road closure, they have been forced to divert to the Wana-Jandola route. This detour has increased travel time from four to nearly seven hours.

In the absence of effective assistance from the provincial government and district authorities, the local truckers’ union has taken it upon themselves to initiate debris removal operations. However, they stress that this is only a temporary measure and that without permanent repair and widening, the road will continue to suffer frequent closures during the rainy season.

Wazir tribal elders and local political leaders have issued a joint appeal to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Chief of Army Staff General Asim Munir, Federal Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, and Chief Secretary Shahab Ali Shah, demanding urgent reconstruction of the road.

They insist the National Highway Authority be given full responsibility to rebuild the road according to international standards, transforming it into a safe, durable, and modern highway resilient to landslides and extreme weather conditions.

The Wazir elders noted that even light rainfall often renders the road impassable, paralysing regional trade and inflicting hardship on the local population. They emphasised that the current condition of the road reflects broader developmental challenges in Lower South Waziristan.

Published in Dawn, May 11th, 2025