I WOULD like to draw the attention of federal government agencies towards an acute shortage of firewood and its alternatives in Chitral district in these chilly winter days.

As 400,000 Chitralis experience the coldest season in 50 years, firewood stocks have almost been consumed and there is little or no stock of LPG cylinders to keep people warm and working.

Meanwhile the Lowari Top remains closed till May 2010. The demand for LPG for the district is 20,000 cylinders to last four months.

This will require a dealer who must deposit Rs600 million to have the required LPG. This is not possible for anyone in the poor district.

It is requested that Ogra and OGDC should establish a depot for sale of LPG in Chitral to ensure stock of LPG for the winter season in the calamity-hit areas.

BASHIR HUSSAIN AZAD
Chitral