Sherpao for early opening of tunnel to avoid shortage of edibles in Chitral

PESHAWAR, Dec 3: Qaumi Watan Party chief and former chief minister Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao has asked the government to open the Lowari tunnel to avoid shortage of food items in Chitral. In a statement issued here on Tuesday, Sherpao said: “The Lowari top road is about to close but the government has not taken any step to make arrangements for transportation of essential items to the valley.” He said Chitral would be cut-off from the rest of the country if snowfall blocked the only land route to the district via the Lowari Pass. The QWP chief said Chitralis faced difficulties in travelling to their hometown owing to closure of the Lowari tunnel. He said that the tunnel should be reopened to facilitate the people travelling to Chitral. He also expressed concern over the limited number of PIA flights to Chitral. “The government should increase the number of flights to the valley,” Mr Sherpao said. He recalled that he had initiated helicopter service to the valley when he was chief minister of the province. “The government should understand the problems of the people of the strategically important district in all possible way as they had been ignored over the years,” he added. Mr Sherpao said that government should complete work on Lowari tunnel project to facilitate the local population.]]>