Chitral to be linked with Tajikistan

PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakthunkhwa Population Welfare Minister, Salim Khan said on Friday that Chitral would be linked with Tajkistan through road that would make the entire region into hub of economy and trade activities.

In Khyber Union of Journalists (KhUJ) Programme 'Mulaqat' (meeting) here at Press Club, the Minister said 205 kilometres road would be constructed to connect Chitral with Tajikistan.

This project has been discussed with Tajik authorities and PC-I of it has been prepared, he remarked.

The first phase of Lawari Tunnel has been completed while work on change of design to convert it from Railway tunnel to road is in final stage and would be presented for approval in upcoming Executive Committee of the National Economic Council's (ECNEC) meeting on October 21.

The cost of the project has been jacked up to Rs.18billion and about Rs. Six to seven billion have so far been spent on it, adding its length would be widen up to 8 feet to ensure smooth flow of traffic between Chitral and downwards district of Khyber Pakthunkhwa.

The federal government has already announced Rs. 2billion for Lawari Tunnel and thanked Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani for it, he maintained.

Khan said Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto Shaheed has laid the foundation of Lawari Tunnel in 1974 that was later stooped by Gen Zia. The closure of work on this mega project by Gen Zia regime was injustice with people of Chitral and urged Maulana Akbar Chitrali, ex MNA to avoid politics on Lawari project.

Work on 57 kilometer Darosh-Chitral would soon start by National Highway Authority that would be completed with an estimated with cost of Rs. 15billion. To connect Chitral with Peshawar and Islamabad especially in winter, the Minister said flights would be resumed from October 16 to Chitral.

In wake of 18th amendment, the Minister said policy draft on population welfare was being prepared and would be tabled before Cabinet soon for approval.

Population Planning Welfare Centres is being setup throughout the province and underlined the need for active media role advocacy to control population rate.

The rights and incentives of about 3000 employees of devolved Population Welfare Ministry have been ensured and protected by KPK Government, he elaborated.

Asked about PML-N criticism against President Asif Ali Zardari, the Minister said Zardari was the first elected President, who returned powers to Parliament.

He said PML-N should also give answers to people for departure of their leadership to Saudi Arabi. He said it was BB Shaheed who persuaded PML-N leadership to contest last General Elections.

He said PPP has rendered great sacrifices for democracy and Pakistan. President Zardari leads parties to address national issues and launches reconciliation politics to resolve major issues like NFC Award, Gilgit Baltistan, Balochistan and FCR Reforms.

The constitutional reforms are the big achievement of PPP, he said. Work on six mega projects for hydel-generation including three in Chitral would start soon, adding to produce electricity around 800MW.

Copyright APP (Associated Press of Pakistan), 2011