PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi has asked the federal government for prompt intervention to expedite the remaining works on Kalam Road in Swat district and complete it before the closing season this year.
In a letter addressed to federal minister for communications, Mr Afridi highlighted the dilapidated condition of the Kalam Road, also known as N-95, which was under the purview of the National Highways Authority (NHA).
The chief minister noted that the N-95 Kalam Road, owned by the National Highway Authority (NHA), was one of Pakistan’s busiest tourist routes and served as the primary access road to the scenic Kalam Valley.
He said that the road was severely damaged at seven different locations during the devastating floods of 2022.
CM writes letter to federal minister for communications
“Following the disaster, the road was temporarily restored to re-establish connectivity and facilitate the movement of local residents and tourists,” the letter said.
It said that at Qandil locality, a portion of road measuring 192 meters was damaged in the floods, while 197 meters in Damlai Madyan, 1148 meters in Bahrain Bazaar, and 297meters in Ramait Bahrain and 360 meters in Hawai Ramait area. Besides, it said that Asrait Kalam an area of 592 meters and 2100 meters in Bodal Kamar area of Kalam was damaged after the floods.
It said that it had been four years and after temporary restoration, several sections of the road have further deteriorated and were now in very poor condition.
It said that these damaged stretches make travel difficult, increase journey times, and pose safety risks for commuters and visitors. Given Kalam’s importance as a major tourist destination of the country, the rehabilitation and upgrading of these road sections is essential to ensure safe, reliable, and uninterrupted access to the region.
“I would like to draw your kind attention that significant portions of the road remain in a dilapidated state due to the incomplete execution of the rehabilitation and improvement works by NHA. Resultantly, the local population, transporters, business community, and tourists are facing considerable hardships, inconvenience, and safety risks while travelling on this important national highway,” it said.
The letter said given the importance of the road for regional connectivity, tourism promotion, and socio-economic uplift of the area, KP government expected a prompt intervention from federal government end to expedite the remaining works on N-95 and complete it before the closing season this year.
“However, if the execution of the remaining works is likely to be delayed due to financial or administrative constraints, the National Highway Authority may kindly issue the requisite No Objection Certificate to the government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, enabling the Provincial Government to undertake the pending works from its own resources in the larger public interest,” it said.
Meanwhile, Younas Khan of Peshawar told Dawn that it was strange why the government was not paying any heed to the dilapidated road leading to the Kalam valley.
He said that he had been visiting the Kalam and other adjacent tourists’ spots along with family every year during the summer but get disappointed over the pathetic condition of the road.
“Even my children, who get in trouble while moving the bumpy road, wonder when this road will get attention of the rulers,” he said, adding that such questions were often raised by the tourists from Punjab and other parts of the country.
Mr Khan said that on one hand, the government was making tall claims of promoting tourism in the province but on the other, the dilapidated roads made a mockery of them.
He said that not only the road leading to Kalam was in bad shape but the road to the Kumrat valley in Upper Dir and other tourist’s spots, too, was in dilapidated condition.
The resident said that providing security and facilities like roads and hoteling to visitors were initial steps for the promotion of tourism otherwise the no one would come here again.
Published in Dawn, June 13th, 2026