CHITRAL, Sept 20: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chief secretary Ghulam Dastgir on Wednesday directed the provincial communication and works department to restore the grandeur of the historical Shahi Masjid in Chitral.

During a visit to the mosque, he expressed displeasure at the delay in rehabilitation of the mosque and said the C&W department would have to complete work within a week.

He said the chief minister had taken keen interest in the mosque’s rehabilitation and approved Rs37 million for it.

The secretary directed the relevant officials to hire the services of skilled personnel from Lahore and Karachi for the mosque’s rehabilitation.

Earlier, he gave away prizes to participants of the District Football Tournament organised by Hashoo Foundation in Chitral city.

He announced on the behalf of the provincial government to establish a stadium in the city and directed the DCO to purchase land for it.

He praised local youths for sportsmen spirit.The chief secretary announced Rs0.6 million for the promotion of paragliding and said Chitral offered n ideal environment for paragliding and it was due to that reason that three world records of paragliding had been claimed by foreigners during a visit to the area.

On Thursday morning, he flow to Baroghil Pass bordering Wakhan corridor of Afghanistan and met residents of Yarkhun Lusht area.

He announced the opening of a dispensary in the area besides ordering the local food department to stock sufficient quantity of wheat in godowns before snowfall.

The secretary announced construction of a road, saying it was a must for development and poverty reduction in the area.