KOHAT: The work on Pindigheb-Jand-Kohat highway project has been halted for two years due to paucity of funds, troubling motorists.

Many accidents have occurred due to blurred vision caused by flying dust on the road.

When contacted, National Highway Authority resident engineer Javed Khan told Dawn on phone that the road project had been divided into two sections: Pindigheb to Khushalgarh in Punjab and from Khushalgarh to Kohat in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, but the cost had increased to Rs14 billion due to unusual delay in its completion.

He said Rs5 billion were allocated for each portion in 2019 when the work was launched, but the cost had now gone up to Rs14 billion due to increasing rates of in construction material.

Mr Khan said people had been protesting the delay in construction of a flyover at the Ghulam Banda railway crossing and a link road in Kohat. He said almost 88 per cent work had already been completed, and if funds were provided, the project could be completed in a few months.

Shah Mehmood, chairman of Sons of Kohat, a social organisation, who has been leading the protests against delayed work, said commuters had been greatly troubled by flying dust on the road. He said the authorities didn’t even bother to sprinkle water to settle the dust for convenience of motorists.

TRIBUTES: The local writers and social circles, at a function held here the other day, paid rich tributes to the achievements of educationist Soraj Narain, who penned 25 books, and is also the recipient of Sitara-i-Imtiaz.

Mr Narain has also the distinction having completed his PhD in Urdu literature at the age of 72 years.

It may be recalled that late poet Parveen Shakir had visited his home in Kohat to appreciate his contribution to Urdu language.

His Urdu literature books are also being taught in the syllabus at various education levels.

SECTION 144: Orakzai deputy commissioner Mohammad Tayyab Abdullah imposed the Section 144, banning cooking during trips to tourist spots, and burning of grass by farmers in forests for 30 days to prevent jungle fires in the tribal district.

A statement issued on Wednesday said the decision had been taken following reports received by the divisional forest officer about the possibility of forest fires occurring in different areas of the district in the upcoming summer months.

The ban will remain in force for 30 days, and anyone found contravening the order will be penalised under section 188 of CrPC.

The deputy commissioner urged the people to abide by the ban to prevent forest fires to preserve natural environment.

Published in Dawn, April 6th, 2023