CHITRAL: Elected leaders and local leadership of all political parties of Ayun village, located at the gateway of the three Kalash valleys, have urged the National Highway Authority (NHA) high-ups that the funds approved for the current financial year for Kalash valleys road only be spent on first phase of the road.

Addressing a press conference at the Chitral Press Club on Thursday, village chairmen of Ayun, Wajihuddin and Muhammad Rehman, accompanied by local leaders Mujeeb-ur-Rehman Shami, Abdul Wahab, Qazi Rashid, Masood-ur-Rehman and Wazir Khan, said that the people of the area have gathered on the platform of Ayun Ittehad Council (AIC) for timely completion of Kalash Valleys road for which their unanimous demand is commencement of road work from the zero-point at Broze.

They suggested that instead of starting work simultaneously on two phases, the phase one should be completed whose land compensation has been paid to the land owners.

They made it clear to the federal government and the NHA that the people of Ayun will not allow work to be started on different phases, which not only causes the project to suffer from delays but also results in poor quality work.

They also urged the NHA not to spend even a single penny of the Rs 75 crore approved for the current year to pay the previous dues of the contractors, but to use the whole amount to complete phase one.

They warned the government that the residents of Ayun village would resist if the work was also started on phase two of the project.

Published in Dawn, June 27th, 2025