PESHAWAR: Speaker Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly, Kiramatullah Khan has said that construction of Lowari Tunnel will open a chapter of progress and development for the landlocked district of Chitral.

He was talking to a representative 'jirga' from Chitral headed by Provincial Minister for Population Welfare, Saleem Khan.

The speaker said that completion of mega project of Lowari Tunnel will not only fulfil the longstanding demand of the people of the area and will establish all weather uninterrupted communication link with Chitral. He said that vigorous and speedy work on the project will be started soon. He said that the government has already released a hefty amount of Rs. two billion for the project.

Kiramatullah said that government is taking keen interest in the completion of the project as it was initiated by the founding chairman, PPP, Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto. He said that the government is also taking interest in the completion of the Chitral-Tajikistan Road, as it will open trade links of Pakistan with the Central Asian Republics.

He said that on the directives of President, Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani, federal minister for communications, Arbab Alamgir Khan is making all out efforts for the implementation of the project.

On this occasion, provincial minister, Saleem Khan told the speaker that the company working on Lowari Tunnel has been paid the outstanding amount of Rs.250 million.

The minister thanked the speaker for showing deep interest in the development of Chitral. The delegation comprised of senior vice president, PPP, Chitral, Syed Burhan Shah Advocate, Rehmat Jalal and Razi Khan.