BAJAUR: Residents of Barkhlozo town of Lowi Mamund tehsil have expressed resentment over the delay in completion of a public toilets project in the local bazaar. Talking to Dawn, elders and traders said that work on the project was inaugurated about a year ago and was planned to be completed within four months.

However, they alleged that the project, aimed at providing portable public toilet facility to residents, traders, and visitors, could not be made functional within the stipulated time as the contractor had halted work on the project seven months ago.

“This much-needed public toilets project, being constructed under the local government and rural development department, has remained non-functional for the past seven months despite the completion of the building, as the contractor stopped further work for unknown reasons,” said Malik Salahuddin, an elder. He told Dawn that the prolonged delay in completing the project had led to the waste of public money.

“The toilet building, already deteriorating due to lack of supervision, could face further damage if it continues to remain non-functional,” said traders Shah Wali Khan, Jandool Khan, Sahibzada and others. They urged the deputy commissioner to direct the contractor to complete the remaining work immediately.

Meanwhile, an official of the local government and rural development department told Dawn on contact that the delay in completion of the project was because of shortage of funds.

Published in Dawn, December 20th, 2025