MANSEHRA: Police and the Frontier Constabulary personnel have been deployed on the Mansehra-Naran-Jalkhad Road in Kaghan Valley here to ensure the safety of the people travelling between Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Gilgit-Baltistan.

Deputy Inspector General of Police, Hazara Range, Nasir Mehmood Satti said on Saturday that he had directed security personnel at checkposts from Naran to Babusar Top to strengthen the nighttime convoy system for the safety of tourists and other passengers on the road.

He said the nighttime convoy system in Naran, Babusar Top and Chilas had given travellers a sense of security and ensured safe and fear-free journey.

“You need to remain alert and vigilant, especially during night duty, as we will not tolerate any negligence in the security of tourists and passengers,” he directed the police and FC personnel.

Briefing the DIG at the Basel police post, district police officer Shafiullah Khan Gandapur said that nine checkposts had been established along the upper stretch of the MNJ Road, with personnel from both police and FC deployed at each post.

He said that nighttime travel was strictly banned from Naran to Babusar Top except for the scheduled convoy system under tight security.

“The first convoy escorted by a joint squad of police and FC departs Naran at 7pm, the second at 10pm and the third at 1am. After that, traffic remains suspended until morning,” he said.

Meanwhile, the DIG visited the Suki Kinari and Balakot hydropower projects the other day and ordered an increase in the deployment of police to ensure the security of Chinese engineers and workers executing both energy projects over the Kunhar River in Balakot tehsil.

“Law-enforcement agencies are ensuring foolproof security for you, but you must also strictly follow the government-issued safety protocols,” he urged the Chinese officials.

Published in Dawn, July 13th, 2025