MANSEHRA: The Upper Kohistan district administration on Friday began paying compensation to the people whose land was acquired for the Diamer-Bhasha Dam after a jirga settled a territorial dispute between Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Gilgit-Baltistan. Upper Kohistan deputy commissioner Azizullah Jan distributed the compensation cheques among the landowners after a meeting of the jirga held in Dasu.

“The jirga has not only settled the longstanding dispute between the two federating units but also established lasting peace in the region, paving the way for the payment of compensation to the tribes on both sides,” Mr Jan told members of the jirga.

Jirga members from Gilgit-Baltistan, led by Maulana Sarwar Shah, and from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, led by Maulana Roshan, attended the forum.

The event was also attended by the Upper Kohistan district police officer and the additional deputy commissioner (finance).

Development comes after jirga settled territorial dispute between KP and GB

Mr Jan lauded the sincere efforts of the jirga in settling the decades-old 8km territory dispute along the Karakoram Highway between the two federating units, which had delayed the payment of compensation to landowners. “This territorial dispute, which also claimed four lives from Thor (Chilas) and Harban (Kohistan), has now been resolved once and for all,” he said.

“I am optimistic that your efforts will ensure peace and tranquillity among the tribes of Harban and Thor, enabling them to live together as they did before the dispute,” Mr Jan said.

The jirga had settled the longstanding territorial dispute several years ago after holding successive sessions, following the killing of four tribesmen from both sides.

The jirga also facilitated the payment of diyat (blood money) and resolved longstanding enmity through the traditional reconciliation process.

DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS: The federal government has approved Rs3.75 billion for development projects in the Mansehra district.

“The tendering process for projects worth Rs1.75 billion, including Rs400 million for electric supply to remote parts of the district, has been completed, and their execution will commence shortly,” Sardar Shahjehan Yusuf, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz Parliamentary Leader in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly, told reporters here on Friday.

He said that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had also separately approved a special grant of Rs2 billion on the request of Federal Minister for Religious Affairs Sardar Mohammad Yusuf for the development projects in Mansehra’s NA-14 constituency.

He said the Rs1.75 billion development projects included the construction of roads, pavements, sewerage systems, and bridges to connect hundreds of villages with main arteries in remote parts of the district.

“We are also going to launch schemes to provide electricity to areas that are still without it,” he added.

The PML-N leader said the federal government was also actively working on mega development projects announced by the prime minister during his visit to the district, which could bring significant economic change to the lives of people.

“The feasibility study of the Mansehra-Chilas (Gilgit Baltistan) Motorway via Kaghan Valley has already been completed, and execution of this major communication project is expected soon,” Mr Yusuf said.

The PML-N leader said that the motorway would not only reduce travel time between Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Gilgit-Baltistan significantly but would also promote tourism in the region.

Published in Dawn, April 18th, 2026