CHITRAL: 12 Oct 09: Chitralis have taken the news (yet to be officially confirmed), with much joy and satisfaction, about keeping the constructed Lowari tunnel as a road tunnel instead of trying to put a train inside it as earlier planned..

Wg Cdr (r) Fardad Ali Shah who had  initiated and spearheaded the idea of keeping the tunnel as road tunnel, has thanked the govt, particularly the Federal Minister of Communications Arbab Alamgir Khan for paying heed to his suggestion and effecting the necessary amendment. He said acknowledging  mistakes and making amends for the same is good for institutions, and he appreciated the NHA for re-orienting the plan.

He has also demanded to terminate any further remaining part of contract with foreign consultants (with due thanks to them for cooperation in constructing difficult part of the tunnel), and give the remaining job which mainly consists of blacktopping the road and plastering the roof and walls, to local contractors to save foreign exchange and expedite the work.

He said as far as Chitralis are concerned the tunnel is complete and they are even ready to use it in the present state, so any finishing work which is to be done should be carried out during the Lowari pass open period and as soon as the pass closes, the work inside should be either adjusted or if necessary even temporarily suspended to allow vehicles to use the tunnel as was done (for a short period) last year. He thanked the people of Chitral, particularly the intelligentsia and the press, for supporting his idea and pursuing it till actualisation, in the collective interest of Chitral.--(CN report)

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