MANSEHRA: The district administration on Thursday sought reports from relevant departments regarding restoration of traffic between Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Gilgit-Baltistan through Kaghan valley after the assistant commissioner of Balakot submitted a proposed travel schedule between the two federating units.

“I have submitted a report to deputy commissioner along with a proposed schedule for reopening of traffic between KP and GB via Mansehra-Naran-Jalkhad (MNJ) road and from Naran to Lake Saiful Muluk. The final decision will be taken once relevant departments submit their reports,” Assistant Commissioner Hasrat Khan told journalists.

In this connection, a meeting chaired by Deputy Commissioner Mian Behzad Adil was attended by representatives of National Highway Authority (NHA), Kaghan Development Authority, communication and works department, Balakot tehsil administration and other relevant departments.

The meeting discussed in detail whether MNJ road, which was closed to all kinds of traffic between KP and GB following heavy snowfall earlier this month, should be reopened. Representatives of NHA and KDA informed the meeting that although the road had been cleared, travelling remained risky due to icy and slippery conditions.

JIRGA: A jirga held in Oghi tehsil on Thursday demanded immediate arrest of robbers allegedly involved in killing of two people during separate incidents of robbery last month.

“We want police to arrest the killers without further delay; otherwise, we will hold a protest demonstration in Oghi,” Advocate Arif Qalandar, a former contender for provincial assembly, told the jirga.

The jirga was attended by traders, local government representatives, lawyers and members of civil society. They urged police to take swift action against the culprits.

Mr Qalandar said that robbers killed a triwheeler driver, Mohammad Waqas, and another person, Ali Zaman, during robberies and managed to escape.

He said that a committee formed by the jirga would meet district police officer (DPO) and other senior officials on Monday.

Published in Dawn, November 14th, 2025