PESHAWAR, Jan 16: Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali has promised to release funds to the tune of Rs120 million for construction of roads and provision of other facilities to the people of Chitral, said MNA Abdul Akbar Chitrali.

Addressing a news conference here at the Peshawar Press Club on Thursday, Mr Chitrali said that he met the prime minister last night where he (the PM) assured him that all the problems faced by the people of Chitral district would be solved on a priority basis.

According to him, the PM had assured him that C-130 flights would be started between Chitral and key destinations so that the people of Chitral stayed in touch with the rest of the country during the snowfall season.

“He also promised to provide air-tickets to the people on subsidised fares, because the people remain disconnected from the rest of the country from November to April due to heavy snowfall,” Abdul Akbar Chitrali quoted the PM as telling him.

Mr Chitrali, who was elected MNA on MMA ticket from Chitral, said the electricity production capacity of Chitral was 2,235 megawatts, whereas the consumption was only 15 megawatts. The work on the production would start soon and the people would get electricity.

He said the PM also promised to provide funds for the construction of roads in Chitral as well as for establishing a degree college for women.

He was hopeful that funds would be provided by the government to explore mineral reservoirs in Chitral and develop them into an industry. This would provide jobs to the people and open business opportunities.

About the construction of Lowari Tunnel, he said that funds for it had been provided and the prime minister would inaugurate it very soon.