CHITRAL: 28 February, 2007:  Residents of Laspur Have thanked President General Pervez Musharraf for allocation of fund for Booni to Shandoor blacktop road and construction of  bridge. They demanded from the president General Musharraf to fulfill his promise of establishment of a Hydro power house at Laspur announced in a public gathering during the Shandoor festival in the year 2005. These views were expressed in a public meeting at Harcheen village of Union council Laspur of Shandoor valley. In which Farman Madad performed as stage secretary. The public meeting was called by M. Qayum Shah Nazim Union council Laspur and presided over by Sub retired Ali Rahmat. The UC Nazim presented his progress report and proclaimed that some 15 million rupees have been allocated for

his constituency and will be spent in different uplift schemes.

They demanded construction of road through its old route of British regime which is shorter and less expensive they said and rejected the new alignment. The speakers stressed upon maintaining the present peaceful situation and advised the public to avoid squabbles and quarrels which are main hurdles in the way of their development. Pointing out problems of the area they said that at  present there is only one micro hydro power house established by an NGO running on self help basis but supply of electricity is not sufficient while some 113 households are still in dark and totally deprived of power supply. There is neither Telephone nor mobile facility in the area. The Laspur valley consisting of some 19000 has only one high school for boys by the government and its only Basic Health Unit is still running without a qualified Doctor.

The valley having rich potential of water supply and Hydro power house can easily be built here but no fund was allocated for this purpose despite announced by the President Musharraf on the occasion of Shandur festival in the year 2005. The speakers thanked District Nazim and DFC for approving a grain store in the area for wheat They said that Chief Minister NWFP has allocated some 60 million fund for Chitral but Laspur valley was totally ignored. (GH Farooqi)