CHITRAL, July 18: Public representatives have expressed concern over “the use of substandard materials” in the carpeting of Boon-Shagram Road that cost Rs10 million. MNA Maulana Abdul Akbar Chitrali, MPA Jahangir Khan and District Nazim Maghfirat Shah yesterday inspected the site and found that sub-standard material had been used in blacktopping of the road, and the work was also far below the given specification.

They said that the contractor only laid a one-inch layer of tarmac on the dusty without using crushed stones in between. Only a month after the carpeting of the road, ditches surfaced at places, they added.

They said the responsible officials and the contractor would be brought to book.

An assistant director of the Works and Services admitted to the use of substandard material and told the public representatives that the former deputy director of the department had made an advance payment to the contractor, which is a violation of the rules.—Correspondent