PESHAWAR, Jan 19: NWFP Minister for Population Welfare, Saleem Khan has said keeping in view the difficulties of Chitrali people due to closure of the Lowari Top, opening of the newly-constructed Lowari Tunnel for light traffic on temporary basis is under consideration.

A meeting of the technical experts of the National Highway Authority and the Korean construction company, SAMBO, is expected to be held in next couple of days to deliberate on the technical aspect of opening the tunnel for light traffic.

The minister was addressing as chief guest at a function organised by monthly Shandoor in connection with the completion of the first phase of the Lowai Tunnel project here, the other day.

Mr Saleem Khan paid rich tributes to the late Zulifikar Ali Bhutto for starting work on such a mega project some thirty years back in spite of meagre resources and poor technology.

“We are grateful to the present government of the PPP especially President Zardari and Prime Minister Gilani for generously funding the project despite the current financial crisis, he added.

He said that the provincial government was extending full cooperation and assistance to the federal government for the completion of the project for which we are grateful to NWFP Governor Owais Ahmad Ghani and Chief Minister Ameer Haider Khan Hoti.

Addressing the function poets and writers hailing from Chitral threw lights on the overall expected changes in the district after completion of the tunnel and paid rich tributes to the late Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto terming him the pioneer of the great project and benefactor of Chitralis.

Speaking on the occasion MPA Ghulam Mohammad demanded that the domicile of Chitral should be made compulsory for the requisition of lease of mountains for minimal resources and that selling out of lands to the non-local businessmen for commercial purposes be banned.—APP