CHITRAL: Thousands of people from Torkhw and Terich valleys in Upper Torkhow area here have launched a march on Booni town, the headquarters of Upper Chitral district, with plans to besiege the offices of the communication and works department against “substandard” work on the Booni-Buzund Road project.

The call for the protest was given by Torkhow and Terich Road Forum, a non-political organisation whose sole demand is the early completion of the road project.

The demonstrators demanded strict action against the relevant C&W officials over “substandard” work on the project and inordinate delay in its completion.

Chairman of the Istaru village council Mohammad Hafiz, one of the march leaders, told Dawn that the demonstrators had reached near Booni town and would soon reach their destination, with the caravan comprising more than 300 vehicles.

Earlier, the protesters staged a sit-in in Rayeen village of Torkhow valley.

The TTRF leaders said that the elected MPA from the area, deputy speaker of the provincial assembly Suraya Bibi and the DC had repeatedly failed to keep their words of redressing people’s grievances regarding the road project work on which had started in 2010.

They alleged that advance payment of a heavy amount had been made to the project contractor by the C&W department where a junior officer had been posted as the executive engineer at the behest of the local MPA.

Published in Dawn, May 23rd, 2025