All parties heads say "no rail in tunnel, please".

CHITRAL, 30 sep 09. A meeting of heads /reps of all political parties of Chitral demanded the Lowari tunnel be commissioned forthwith as a road tunnel as it has already proved feasible and suitable for the same. They said it was a sheer wastage of time and money in unnecessarily trying to shove railway bogies into the tunnel when it can do much better without such nonsensical arrangement. The meeting was presided over by Moulana Sher Aziz of JI, and attended amongst others by MNA Shahzada Mohiuddin, PML(Q) president Saeed Ahmad, PPP president Zainul Abeddin, PPP(S) president Abdul Wali Khan, PTI president Abdul Latif Khan, reps of JUI, ANP and members of civil society. The MNA said chairman NHA has assured him that work would restart by 10 October which was suspended due to security reasons and there is no problem of funds he said. Participants demanded from the NHA to making the tunnel available for use during the pass closure period coming winters as was proved feasible last winters.--(CN report)

--------------------------