Heavy snowfall on Lowari Pass during last three days has blocked land route connecting the impoverished Chitral with other districts of the North West Frontier Province (NWFP) and Chitralis have been stranded either in their home district or in other parts of the country.
The blockade of the land route and suspension of air flights by Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has stranded Chitralis on both sides of the Lowari Pass. The national flag carrier operates two flights a day to Chitral with one flight from Peshawar and the second from federal capital Islamabad. As Chitral is a backward and poor district, therefore, majority of its residents is not in a position to bear the expenses of boarding the flights.
In such a situation, the poor Chitralis have no other option than staying with their relatives in different parts of the country and province. In the past, the people of Chitral used to travel through Nawa-Pass, Pak-Afghan border in Mohmand Agency.
The prevailing security situation on both sides of the border has made it difficult for Chitralis to utilise this land route passing through Kunar province of Afghanistan. Chitralis re-enter Pakistani territory on Pak-Afghan border at Arundu. The security personnel of Afghanistan are not allowing even a mobile phone set to be carried by the Chitralis using this transit route.
Pakistan security forces are carrying operation against militants and local Taliban in Mohmand Agency, which has further multiplied the problem of Chitralis using the route within their own country.
According to reports Afghanistan has offered another transit route of Nangarhar-Chaggar Sarai Road. However, the transporters using the road would have to follow a strict timetable oin this route. They can travel between 10:00 A.M to 4:00 P.M. The residents of Chitral living outside the district in different parts of the country are facing difficulties in coming out or going to their hometown.
Two days back, the body of the wife of a PPP leader and retired Post Master General Sardar Ali Aman was shifted to Afghanistan through Torkhan border. The body took more than 13 hours to reach Drosh, a town near Pak-Afghan border at Arundu.
The people of Chitral since long are demanding all season alternative routes to connect their district with other parts of the country. Chitral has more than 0.4 million population that remains cut off from the country for more than three months each year.
Initial work on the construction of alternative route was started in 70s during the government of Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto. However, military ruler Zia-ul-Haq stopped work on the project. Former president Pervez Musharraf once again started work on the project, which would be completed by the end of 2010.
To facilitate Chitralis in transportation they are demanding subsidy in the PIA fares and reduction in it. The one side fare of the national flag carrier to Chitral is Rs 2910, which is unbearable for the people of impoverished district.
"The air fares were increased on the pretext of growing prices of petroleum products from Rs 1620 and now with decline in the price it should be reduced accordingly" demanded Abdul Akbar Chitrali, a former MNA from the district.
Previously government used to operate special helicopter service between Chitral and Dir. The former legislator also called for its restoration to facilitate Chitralis in travelling across the Lowari Pass. He has also suggested the revival of the C-130 aircraft service to Chitral.