CHITRAL, Jan 14: The federal and NWFP governments have been asked to come to the rescue of the residents of Chitral, who have been facing numerous problems since the arrival of winter season.

Talking to mediapersons here on Monday, president of Human Rights Committee Chitral, Niaz Ahmed Niazi advocate said that heavy snowfall had forced closure of the Lowari Pass causing severe shortage of essential commodities of daily consumption.

Mr Niazi regretted that the federal government had turned a deaf ear to their miseries. He said that roads to the different valleys of the district were yet to be opened by the district government after the snowfall.

He denounced the authorities concerned for failing to remove the heavy snow accumulated on the Chitral airport for many days now, which had suspended the air traffic and stranded hundreds of passengers.