PESHAWAR: Awami National Party has asked the government to open all trade routes with Afghanistan in order to improve bilateral trade and strengthen regional economy.

Party’s provincial president Aimal Wali Khan said in a statement here on Saturday that like Torkham and Chaman border trade routes the government should also open rest of the routes so as to facilitate the people residing along the border areas.

Aimal Wali alleged that the incompetence of the government had been resulting in trade losses and the actual sufferers were Pakhtuns. He said that the local natural resources should be utilised for development of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa instead of other provinces.

He said that the parking of loaded container vehicles at Matani, Badhber and in southern districts for indefinite period had also created hardships for the motorists who had to face difficulties in movement on the Indus Highway.

The government, he alleged, was not sincere with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and reluctant to give its due constitutional share in natural resources. He said that KP had sufficient resources of water, forests, minerals, natural gas and also generating hydel power, but even then the government had kept it deprived of required facilities.

The ANP leader pointed out that due to unavailability of the required machinery and modern technology the people were unable to ensure safe excavation of mines. He demanded of the government to facilitate the business community and create new opportunities for investment to overcome joblessness and poverty in the province.

Besides, he urged the KP government to raise voice for provincial rights and release of gas and electricity royalty to initiate development projects and bring the neglected areas at a par with developed parts of the country.

Published in Dawn, January 3rd, 2021